CBSE counsellors to help Class X students

The Central Board of Secondary Education is streamlining its telecounselling facility that it has had for a number of years to guide anxious Class X students gearing up for their examinations. Officials say counsellors will be better equipped to handle both emotional as well as administrative questions from now.
The board has also increased the number of cities where the telecounselling facility is available by nearly 50%; the facility will be offered in 25 cities and telecounselling will start in another month.
"We found counsellors were usually well-equipped to handle students' emotional problems related to anxiety and academic pressure but they were often not sure of how to assist those who called in with queries related to the examination procedure,'' CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi said.
At a recent conference in Delhi, telecounsellors were briefed on various procedures related to CBSE exams, including personalised queries such as what a student should do if the examination admit card was yet to arrive.
School principals, teachers and telecounsellors who want to clear their doubts on procedural issues can now call the CBSE controller of examinations every day between 4 pm and 8 pm.
"If telecounsellors do not have the answer to a particular query from a student, they will now guide the student to the CBSE's own interactive website, where there is a separate section for Frequently Asked Questions. If their doubts remain unanswered, they have the option of sending in their queries and suggestions to the board. There is a separate section on the website through which students can interact directly with the chairman,'' Joshi said.
"I think the board is doing its best to reach out to a wider cross-section of children before the examinations,'' R N Podar School principal Avnita Bir said, adding that an increasing number of children was calling the helpline before the exams.
The CBSE board has, off late, been flooded with queries that go beyond the purview of the board. Students in search of career guidance, for instance, often dial and have been known to ask questions like: "If I want to pursue architecture, which college should I apply to?''