Bhopal: The MP Board of Secondary Education’s (MPBSE) helplines were flooded with phone calls from anxious students. The helpline has received 811 calls from students in three days since it restarted on January1. The helpline will now be available to the students round the year.
Four new lines have been added to the toll free number from January 1 this year. Earlier, there were only two lines. Now, the number will have six lines. Also, the number of counsellors has been increased. Now, six counsellors will work in one shift. Earlier, their number was two. They work in four shifts from 8 am to 8 pm.
The MP Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) launched the helpline in 2007 for students from class 9 to12. The main objective of the helpline is to make the students free from the stress and fear of exam and guide them. It is also to provide consultation on psychological, mental and personal problems during the exam time.
The helpline becomes operational every year before the beginning of board exam and continues till the announcement of the results of supplementary exam. In-charge of the helpline centre, Hemant Sharma told Free Press, “We were getting a huge number of calls from students before and after board exams. And due to this, we have decided this year to open it for whole year from January to December.”
He further said, “Not only this, the board has added four more lines and four counsellors in a shift from this year. Earlier, there were two lines and two counsellors in each shift. Besides, there is also a facility where students and their parents or guardians can visit the centre located on the board campus in Bhopal to consult the counsellors.”
“In three days, we have received 811 calls from students across the state. We have started the helpline for the students of MP board but now the students of any board including CBSE (Centre Board of Secondary Education) call us,” said Sharma who is the director of Vigyan Kendra also.