Lok Sabha Question No. 2576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Stress on Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2576

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

Stress on Students

## †2576. SHRI KIRTI AZAD: SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  stress  level  has  been increasing in students due to various reasons;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has conducted any study in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is considering for consultations with the State Governments  and  other  stakeholders  to  find  ways  to  eliminate/reduce stress  or  phobia  amongst  students  by  providing  entertainment  facilities and other measures in schools; and
- (d) if so, the details of the action plan prepared in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a)  to  (d):  The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  is  aware  of  the newspaper reports  on  the  issue  from  time  to  time.    However,  no  specific study has been conducted by this Ministry on the matter.  Education being a  concurrent  subject,  majority  of  schools  and  the  State  Examination Boards come under the purview of the State Governments/UT Administration.  No such centralized data are maintained by the Ministry of Human  Resource  Development. The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 recognizes the need for stress free education. Section

30 (1) of the RTE Act provides that no child should be required to pass any board  examinations  till  completion  of  elementary  education.  National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005 recommends measures like reduction of curriculum load, emphasis  on  comprehension  and  application of knowledge, focus on continuous and comprehensive evaluation, emphasis on testing of competencies rather than rote memory, making examinations more flexible, provision of guidance and counseling in schools, and making learning child-centric.

Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  has  taken  following steps to deal with stress related to examination:

- (i) Restructuring and simplification of question papers.
- (ii) Grading system has been introduced at Secondary School level for Classes IX & X.
- (iii) 15 minutes of additional time has been given to the students to read the Question  Paper  before  they begin to write the Answers.
- (iv) No  class X Board  Examination  w.e.f. 2011  for students studying in CBSE Senior Secondary Schools and who do not wish to move out of the CBSE system after class X.
- (v) The  Continuous  and  Comprehensive  Evaluation  (CCE)  has been introduced in Classes IX and X.
- (vi) Appointment of full-time counselor in schools.
- (vii) Availability of counseling services in schools.
- (viii) Web-based interaction with CBSE throughout the year.
- (ix) Introduction  of  subjects  like  Music,  Dance,  Painting,  Theatre etc.  for  the  development  of  harmonious  personality  in  the students.

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