Caution against unrealistic goals, schools offer pre-board tips for parents and students

Parents should not set unrealistic targets for their children and create unnecessary pressure on them, said heads of several schools.

At least one school has scheduled a meeting with parents this week where they are going to address the pressure on children to perform before the board examinations.

Several other schools will address students on setting a routine for themselves now that the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has published the timetable for the ISC (Class XII) and ICSE (Class X) exams.

The ICSE exams will start on February 21 and the ISC exams on February 12.

“The students have to be sincere about the exams and the preparations, but parents should ensure that the children do not suffer from any exam phobia. Parents should not set any unrealistic benchmark for their children. They have to set a realistic goal, depending on the ability of the child,” said Satabdi Bhattacharjee, principal, South City International School.

Parents should guide the children but also understand that the children “should be responsible for themselves.”

Teachers have come across instances of children finding it difficult to do what they are good at because of their parents' excessive anxiety before the exams.

“In the last parent-teacher meeting, we told parents not to impose their desires on the children because that creates more anxiety in the children. They have to motivate the children without being overbearing,” said Sujoy Biswas, principal, Rammohan Mission High School.

The announcement of the exam timeatable have given a roadmap to schools as well as students, which will help them draw up a proper routine for preparations.

Students now know how many days are left before the board exams and they can set a study schedule for themselves.

“We have a session with our students where we will tell them about the instructions they need to follow in the exam hall. The students need to know that in case of any anomaly, the decision of the supervising examiner is final. The school cannot and will not interfere,” said Terence John, principal, Julien Day School, Kalyani.

“We have told the students that though the exams will be held in their school, the invigilators will be from outside,” said Gargi Banerjee, principal, Sri Sri Academy.

Some schools are also explaning to the students the need for adequate sleep.