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A mathematical helpline to subtract anxiety
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By Rumu Banerjee/TNN
New Delhi: For many students gearing up to face the board exams
next month, there's one word that tops their anxiety list: Math.
But wait, there's help at hand. The Mathematical Sciences Foundation,
a group of academics, has started a helpline which will run
till March 14.
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Started last year, the helpline is especially targeted to
tackle questions from class X and XII students. Said Dinesh
Singh, director of the foundation and head of the mathematics
department at Delhi University (DU): ‘‘The helpline
not only helps callers solve questions but also counsels them
on how to approach the paper.’’
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For instance, counsellors advice callers on chapters considered
important by the CBSE, depending on the weightage given in the
marking scheme. Said Sanjeev Aggarwal, faculty at St Stephen’s
and part of the foundation, ‘‘This is information
that’s freely available but most students don’t
seem to be aware of it.’’
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Analysis of the past question papers as
well as marking is doled out to the callers. Added Aggarwal,
‘‘We get many panic calls about failing the
maths paper. The first thing we explain is that it is
difficult to fail. Not many know that just stating the
question and drawing the diagram correctly in the answersheet
can fetch you marks.’’
However, it’s not only subject questions that the
helpline answers. Basic counselling is an important part
too. Said Singh, ‘‘Last year, the number of
calls jumped substantially just before the maths paper.
Most of the callers wanted someone to at least listen
to their worries.’’ It is not just children
who call however. Parents call as well. Said Shane, a
second year maths student at St Stephen’s, manning
the lines at the helpline, ‘‘Once I got a
call from a parent, saying her son wasn’t studying.’’
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Said Vithila Rahul, counsellor at Birla Vidya
Niketan, ‘‘Parents must realise that the children
are under pressure and need emotional support.’’
Added Mala Sharma, counsellor at a government school in Adarsh
Nagar, ‘‘Parents can help by trying to keep a normal
atmosphere at home. Just make sure that your child is gettSing
proper nutrition.’’
Some numbers that students can keep in mind: Maths helpline
(55155242, 55182616, 30903790), CBSE helpline (95124-5054438,
26855211, 27014447).
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