'Helplines not enough'

Say experts who agree that high-risk students ought to be given in-house counselling

With board examinations just around the corner, students from standards X and XII are gearing up to do their very best. Theu00a0 Karnataka State Secondary Education Examination Board (KSSEEB), on its part, is also doing what it can to help students deal with the stress by launching a helpline for both students and parents, just like last year.


SOS: Experts say children develop a fear from childhood with parents
constantly talking about how they need to fare in every examination.
Representation pic

Last year, the helpline had about 107 callersu00a0-- a record. However, this success was marred by 10 suicides after the results were out, leaving experts in the city to wonder if the KSSEEB is doing enough to help its students.

Syed Sultan Ahmad, an educator and advisor to the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, said, "Helplines are a good effort, but the fear of examinations is deep-rooted because of parents and teachers. Kids are frustrated and don't get enough sleep, it's very important that in-house counselling be provided to deal with issues. It's shameful that schools spend a ridiculous amount in infrastructure development but can't train the teachers
to counsel their high risk students."

Experts from NIMHANS were roped into helping the KSSEEB helplines last year. C R Chandrashekar, medical superintendent, NIMHANS, said, "Each school should root out those students who do poorly and counsel them. India is lagging behind in this regard."

He added, "Frustration tends to provoke and dealing with failure and angry parents can often be a major blow to their self-esteem." M N Srihari, a professor from R V College of Engineering, said, "The job and education culture needs to be segregated only then there will be an education revolution in this country."

He added, "Children develop a fear from childhood with parents constantly talking about how they need to fare in every examination." D Venkateshaiah, Director of the KSSEEB, said, "What else can we do? There is nothing more that can be done. The helplines were a success last year and will be available this year again." The helplines will be available two days before the start of the exams on March 30.