State board helpline reaches out to students

Within hours of becoming operational on Wednesday, the state board’s student helpline in Mumbai received 20 calls, reports Bhavya Dore.

Within hours of becoming operational on Wednesday, the state board’s student helpline in Mumbai received 20 calls.

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Started by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education for students who will be writing the SSC or the HSC examinations this year, the helpline largely fielded technical queries.

“Most callers were students who wanted to know their examination centres. So far, we have received no calls related to exam stress,” said V.S. Mhatre, Mumbai division secretary.

The HSC examinations will begin on February 23 while the SSC will start on March 4.

Each of the eight divisions of the state board has its own helpline.

Arun Lonkar, who was manning the Mumbai division helpline in the afternoon, said that several callers also asked for details on the examination timetable, seating arrangements for the examinations and how students could avail of their hall tickets.

“One caller said he was worried that what he studied in the morning he did not remember at night.”

The caller was referred to psychiatrist, Dr Rajendra Barve, who is working with the board to help counsel students.

Aside from operating a helpline for students, the board has asked schools to counsel students, in the wake of several student suicides since the beginning of the year.

The helpline (27893756) is operated from the board’s Vashi office between 7 am and 9 pm.