Mumbai Mirror, Thursday, 11 Feb 10: page 3 – “Board opens helpline for SSC, HSC examinees, appeals against misuse”

A welcome step in the right direction; one only hopes that the officials attending callers are well equipped to handle the stress that the students and parents face especially when the exams are around the corner.
A long term goal for the Board should be to have professionally-manned, counselling centres for students and parents all year around; this can go a long way in preventing students from succumbing to exam and other pressures.  One cannot stress enough on the role that parents and family members of students need to play; some useful tips:
•    Keep your cool; children often look to parents for validation and an anxious parent cannot foster confidence in a child.
•    Don’t push your children; encourage them to give their best shot and assure them that failure is not the end of the world.  Your love and support means the world to them, so, don’t hold back in expressing the same through words and actions.
•    Do not compare your child’s efforts and performance to others; nothing is more de-motivating than constant nagging and comparison.
•    Ensure the child gets enough rest and build in time for relaxation. All work and no play will indeed make Jack a dull boy.
•    Keep a keen watch for any signs of depression and seek help immediately.

While exams are a necessary evil of our education system, there is no reason why lives are lost in the process; the first combative measure starts at home.