Students find difficulty in getting through on CBSE Helpline

Updated on: Saturday, February 02, 2013

In theory, the pre-exam counselling started by the Central Board of Secondary Education, which started today, is meant to ease exam stress among students. However, on Day One of the counselling, which is to conclude on April 17, many students did not get through on the number 1800118004. This is the number students from across the country are supposed to call to seek psychological help from principals and counsellors.

In the daytime, many students did not get through while by evening, the number was busy. Nitin Bhandari, a Class XII student from Civil Lines said, "I utilized counselling services in Class X and was waiting for the service this year as well because it really helped me deal with Maths phobia last time."

According to Shalini Awasthi, a homemaker from SBS Nagar, "My daughter, who is in Class 12, does not take coaching classes. But with all her friends attending coaching classes, she is panicking. I tried to make her understand that studying her coursebook thoroughly will help but she is buying all the books available in the market. I thought counselling would help, but the number has been unreachable since morning."

Around 66 principals and trained counsellors from CBSE-affiliated government and private schools, besides a few psychologists, will participate in tele-counselling sessions. They will address exam-related psychological problems of students. A total of 56 counsellors are from India while 10 will be located in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, Kuwait, Oman and Tokyo.

While that sounds pretty impressive, it does not count if students are unable to talk to the counsellors.

Anchit Singh, a Class X student of Bhagat Singh Nagar said, "This is my first experience with the Boards and I am very confused with the multitude of books available in the market. I wanted to know which books I should read other than NCERT texts. Besides, I also suffer from exam phobia. So I decided to seek help but the number is either busy or does not exist.

The lengthy wait to be connected to counselors is an unaffordable luxury for students at this time. Nitya Garg, a student of class XII said, "With exams only a month away, I have been sick with worry and have been having sleepless nights. I was waiting for counselling services to start, but since morning I have not been able to connect to the counsellors." Angad Sehgal, a Class XII student from Civil Lines is more patient but does agree with Nitya. "Counselling services will be available till April 17, so queries can wait till tomorrow. But I hope telephones lines become available as soon as possible as I am already having a tough time dealing with the board exams. Seeing me so stressed out, my mother suggested that I talk to counsellors to calm down," he said.

Students find difficulty in getting through on CBSE Helpline

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