Sixteen counsellors spread across MMR have become a lifeline for over seven lakh students appearing for the board exams
Students are expected to call the 16 counsellors for Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in the run up to the board exams in the next few days. PIC/ISTOCK
The Maharashtra Board has appointed a total of 16 counsellors who have been resolving panicked and anxious queries ahead of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and State Secondary Certificate( SSC) boards, the former beginning from February 10, while the latter examinations start 10 days later (February 20). The incoming calls include questions like , “What if I forget my answers?” “What if I don’t score well?” “Will they allow me inside if I’m 10 minutes late to the centre?” “Why should I even bother attempting the rest of the exam if my first test was so bad?”
Ahead of the exams, these trained teacher-counsellors untangle the academic and logistical doubts of students across Mumbai, which includes Thane, Raigad, and Palghar. This is a full-time job as most teachers remain available for 7,01,362 students, over the phone or a WhatsApp call throughout the day.
The calls, though, don’t include just students but often their even more anxious guardians. “The calls come in intervals. During the elections, we had many parents call to ask whether the exams would be postponed owing to the polls,” said Mahendra Patil, a Wadala-based teacher who has been a board exam counsellor since 2009. But the next few days will be the really tough ones, “Now, as the exams start, the trend will pick up again, and we will have last-minute callers on making it to exam centres on time, anxiety, and nervousness,” adds Patil.
Most calls are by students anxious about bad scores or reaching the exam centre late. file pic for representation
When Sunday mid-day tested out the helpline numbers to see if the counsellors were as accessible as we were being told, most counsellors were indeed available, and not just that, but prompt and ready to resolve queries. Those counsellors who might be busy at the school where they work, called back within a few minutes — a reminder about how most of us have a picture of incompetence when it comes to government-run schools, as well as educators.
As it usually happens, counsellors say that several calls they receive are the result of the rumour mill churning out false information and half-knowledge. Misinformation during these times is the devil’s playground, it seems, as students are affected by the scourge of social media, parents of WhatsApp messages, one of the biggest trigger points is messages and posts about leaked examination papers, and another all-time favourite is the eternal fear of the ‘changed timetable’. Guardians and students in these cases are advised to follow only official Maharashtra Board communication.
Patil has two insights since the counsellors began manning the cell phone lines: “There are three kinds of students who call us the most,” he says. First is the one who scored badly in their preliminary examinations, the ones who are usually too hard on themselves with a set score that they must achieve and, finally, those who have always had examination jitters. “A few years ago, I had a student who refused to take the rest of his examinations because he felt that he hadn’t performed well during his math exam. We talked him down and convinced the student to still take his shot, and he turned out to be the school topper that year. He is an engineer now. We don’t want students to pull out their hair over a single exam (preliminary), but do their best to make the most out of the year,” Patil added.
In her 15 years of experience as a counsellor with the State Board, Pratibha Kesarkar feels that oftentimes the child is calm and collected, the guardian of that student, though, might be the one spiralling out with worry. In such cases, they are counselled and asked not to put undue pressure on their children since it directly affects the mental and physical health of the students.
“Students end up with acidity, stomach problems, and other physical aches, which have manifested as a result of stress and late nights. We ask students to look after their health, take breaks with calming music, give their eyes rest, and keep calm before the exam, but it’s just as important for parents to stay calm for their children,” she says.
Rajendra Ahire, chairman, Mumbai Divisional Board, says...
“It is crucial not to believe in any social media rumours. Only follow the official board timetable, and do not follow any unauthorised posts. Read the instructions in your answer booklet carefully and do not draw any symbols, motifs, or anything that can reveal your identity.”
Sunday mid-day test calls exam counsellors anonymously
Example 1
Speaker: My child has been nervous and has had trouble studying for the exams. Can we reach out to you?
Counsellor 1: Yes. You can also send your child’s past scores, preliminary scores, scholarship scores, and other records over WhatsApp so we can guide him with more context.
Example 1
Speaker: If we face commute problems on exam day, who do we reach out to?
Counsellor 1: We can resolve all exam-related queries for you, but any other doubts will be passed on to the administrative teams if you would like to share them..
Dr Dayal Mirchandani, psychiatrist, director of Behavioural Science Network
Students
“Pupils should not cut down on their sleep. If they sleep well, they are less anxious, and their memory serves them better.
Practising relaxation exercises a few times a day helps students keep their composure.
A lot of learning is unconscious, so if you have revised enough, it will come back to you. Keep glancing through your revision notes.”
For parents
“It’s crucial not to compare your child’s progress with their peers’. Stop asking the child about the exam which is already done and allow them to move to the next one. Remind your child that there are several options that determine their future, like entrance tests and different courses.”
Maharashtra Board Counsellor Details
Total number of counsellors: 16 phone lines
Counsellors who will be present at the Mumbai Division Office: 2
Region-wise allocation
Mumbai North 2
Mumbai Suburban 2
Mumbai West 3
Palghar 2
Raigad 2
Thane 2
Helplines to call
8104939260
9702008053
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