Chandigarh, Feb 16: The Chandigarh education department has established dedicated helpline services to assist students as the Class 10 and 12 board examinations are scheduled to begin on February 17. A team of 18 professionals, including lecturers, Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs), and school counsellors, has been deployed to address the academic concerns and psychological stress of approximately 38,000 students from government and private schools.
Education officials stated that the helplines will remain operational until April 10, 2026, between 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm. The administration has circulated the contact details of these mentors to 96 government schools across the city, ensuring students have direct access to guidance on time management, subject-specific doubts, and revised paper patterns.
Neeraj Sharma, an English lecturer at GMSSS-18, affirmed that many students are seeking advice on how to handle exam-day pressure and effectively structure their responses. She noted that when students require help outside her expertise, she facilitates connections with the appropriate subject teachers to ensure accurate information is provided.
The transition to a new examination format has also been a focal point for the support team. Jasjit Kaur, a TGT at GMSSS-37-B, maintained that the revised science paper pattern—which now categorizes questions into biology, chemistry, and physics—has caused some confusion. She stated that teachers are actively helping students understand how to navigate these changes to improve their performance.
Beyond academic instruction, the initiative focuses heavily on mental well-being. Monika Sharma, a counsellor at GGMSSS-20-B, declared that she has already interacted with numerous students feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming tests. She asserted the importance of early intervention, advising students to utilize sample papers and memory aids to build confidence.
Additionally, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) clarified new protocols for Class 10 students starting this year. Officials affirmed that while students may have a secondary opportunity for improvement, the initial main examination remains compulsory. The board stated that the second sitting will serve as a limited improvement chance rather than a total replacement of the first attempt.
