A Spate of cheating, suicide and forgery cases during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations this year has prompted the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Mumbai division, to formulate a 21-point Stress Free Exams programme with the help of a team of psychiatrists and psychologists.
The initiative was developed after a day-long brainstorming session with the team on Wednesday. A booklet, containing articles and tips to reduce stress levels during examinations, will be circulated to all schools and colleges in the Mumbai division by June after acquainting principals and teachers through meetings and teacher training programmes.
The team comprised Dr Rajendra Barve, Dr Harish Shetty, Rajeev Tambe, Vijay Jamsandekar, head of psychology department at University of Mumbai Dr Anuradha Sovni, Shailaja Mulay, Sujata Chowfer and board officials.
Basanti Roy, secretary, MSBSHSE Mumbai division, said, board exams are significant in a students life because this is the first time that he appears for an exam outside his school along with lakhs of other students. Also, it is the first time that he appears for exams that are based on the entire years portion. Besides, marks that students score in these exams hold importance in their future for choosing colleges, career, profession and also their status symbol in a way. We have recognised all the factors that make students stressful during exams and have tried to come up with a possible solution to help students overcome these.
The five factors of stress identified are students: many do not study regularly and hence cannot cope with studies, some find the syllabus tough; parents: high expectations or total neglect; schools and colleges: many fail students in the 9th and 11th standards to ensure 100 per cent result in 10th and 12th, teaching apathy, competitive atmosphere; society and community: exerting undue pressure on students; and other factors like TV and internet. The booklet will contain five to eight points under each of the five categories and action plans.