CBSE helpline to deal with exam-related stress starts tomorrow

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) To help students overcomeexam-related stress, CBSE will begin the pre-exam counsellingprocess from tomorrow for the next two and half months.

This year, 49 principals and trained counsellors fromCBSE-affiliated government and private schools besides a fewpsychologists will participate in tele-counseling and addressexam-related psychological problems of the students, said aCBSE official.

While 44 of them are available in India, the rest fourwould operate in Dubai, Doha, Kuwait and Japan where it isbeing opened for the first time, said the official.

The class XII and class X board exams would begin fromMarch 1.

This is the 14th consecutive year that CBSE will beproviding counselling to students and parents during theentire duration of examinations.

Students can dial a toll-free number 1800 11 7002 fromany part of the country which will give centralized access tothe CBSE helpline.

The official said while the general queries will beanswered by the operators, students will be connected to theprincipals or counsellors in case of exam related anxiety orstress.

Multiple modes of communication such as telephoniccounselling, question-answer columns in newspapers,Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and onlinecounselling through CBSE website are usually used to reach outto more and more examinees.

The counselling would continue upto April 13, 2011.

Arrengements have also been made to provide counsellingto specially-abled children to take care of their needs andanxiety.

The official said CBSE experts will answer the queries ofstudents through weekly question-answer columns which would bepublished in leading dailies during February.

Information related to examinations and techniques tocope with exam-related anxiety is also provided at the CBSEwebsite www.cbse.nic.in.