Knowledge

How to banish exam stress? No gyan; all practical tips!

Stress is not what you get; it is what you take. And exams have been conducted since times immemorial; there is nothing new in it – it is just that stress has been the recent addition in the curriculum. The one who added it is you – and only you can banish it!

Published

8 years ago

March 10, 2017

Dr Sanjay Parva

The famous American football coach Paul Eugene Brown has said: "The key to winning is poise under stress". You might say here is another baba distributing his gyan on stress. But, read on!

Bet that simply the idea of banishing exam stress will leave you thrilled to resume your studies with enthusiasm.

“Exam stress is worrying about failure in the exam. Do not take the stress, it’s harmful for health, for your concentration and makes things worse than better. Take a deep breath, do these exercises, make such a timetable, eat a healthy diet and so on.”

Aren’t all sites, books and newspapers sounding the same a month before your exams? It seems you are their only target to share their wisdom. And you get so overloaded with wisdom that even wisdom begins to stress you.

“We’ve had it enough. As it is we are stressed, and these gyan lecturers are busy distributing their wisdom to us. Why don’t they leave us alone and let us be ourselves? Or even if they want to help us genuinely, give us something we can rely upon. Not these outdated and boring breathing exercises.”

Your reaction is the same, right? Obviously, one would react in such a manner when he is stressed and on the top of it the lectures from family, relatives, and these gyan gurus.

But, nothing of that sort will be dwelt with here. You only have to read on to know.

Study for yourself and to learn

Before discussing the ways to eliminate stress, do you know the full form of EXAMS?

“Examination” would be your answer; however, it is actually “Excitement and Masti with Studies”. Hope half of your stress would be relieved on knowing the exact meaning of exams?

You would be wondering, how exams could mean excitement and masti? Why not? After all, it’s we who have made the examination time a tough and testing one, a time to take stress. Though your parents and teachers have a lot of expectations from you to score well in exams but remember you are not appearing the exam for them, it is for yourself.

If you score well in exams, you will be appreciated by your teachers, parents, and friends. But, if not, they will be the one to scold you and feel annoyed. This means you are appearing in exams to get affection and appreciation from them; your self-esteem and confidence are based on their judgement.

Examination is Excitement and Masti with Studies. When you understand this, half of of your stress would be relieved.

If they approve of you, you feel confident otherwise not. Though it’s normal to have expectations, but, ultimately you study for yourself and not for other’s sake. Your focus for study should be an enhancement in your learning and not just score grades to achieve others’ appreciation.

Remember the character Tyrion Lannister in the series Game of Thrones. Though he is small in size but makes up for his weakness by his high-level intellect. All the more, despite his size, he has a girlfriend.

What does the character display? What message does he want to convey? “Just stop trying to impress people around or care about what they say. Even if you do something cool, they may find reasons to disapprove you.” Similarly, you must not focus on unusual expectations laid by your teachers and parents.

Agreed, today’s schools and parents lay emphasis only on the grades obtained by the student and you can’t change the system. But, at least you can change your perspective towards your studies and exams. Most of the students get stressed at the exam time due to the pressure of expectations by their parents and teachers.

No TV, no phones, no hanging out with friends, no chatting on social media, in short nothing else than books must be your companion during exam time, are the instructions given by most parents.

Revealing his agony about parental pressure, Mayank Srivastava, a 13-year-old boy says that his family dreams about his admission in one of the top colleges of IIT. However, Tushar is least interested in IIT and wishes to gain admission in one of the fine arts college. And by the way isn’t 13 too early an age to think about IIT? At 13 or even 14, 15, 16 one should just be doing two things – playing and Studying. You have only been studying, hence the exam stress.

Such parental pressures are common in every household. Let their expectations be and don’t get overwhelmed by them. Don’t retaliate and oppose your parents openly, but try to talk freely about your desires, capacity to learn and how you wish to proceed with your preparations.

You must study for yourself, keeping your learning process at the centre stage and you will automatically score well in exams. Having an open conversation with your parents and handling their expectations with a calm mind will help them understand your stress and make them supportive in your exam preparations. By remaining silent or accusing them, you would make the matters worse.

At 13 or even 14, 15, 16 one should just be doing two things – playing and studying. You have only been studying, hence the exam stress.

Was that too philosophical? Yeah! It seems to be so, but you need to set a clear goal for your studies; whether it’s just passing an exam or learning something new. Once you proceed with a clear aim, you can make your study time fun and interesting by exploring various ways to learning a concept; rather than just memorising and forgetting it later.

Because once you learn and understand a concept, it will be imbibed in your memory for life and you wouldn’t require an extra effort to remember it. Contrastingly, just cramming and memorising the lessons would give no result. They would be forgotten due to stress and you won’t be able to reproduce them in the examination; further adding to your stress.

Moreover, the approach of the students towards the exam is very cynical. They feel that the schools conduct exams to test their knowledge, but actually, it’s not a test, it’s an opportunity to know your strengths and weaknesses. Exams are a medium where you know your field of excellence and shortcomings related to your studies.

Engage in creative ways to make study time fun and combat boredom

Many students equate effectiveness of their study with the number of hours spent with books. However, it’s not the quantity but quality of time spent reading the book or taking notes that matters. It’s not worthwhile to spend hours with your book and not learning even worth a single penny.

Moreover, learning doesn’t only happen by reading books. Engaging in interactive activities and fun games also makes you learn and retain it for longer. This is how exams become exciting and enjoyable. You learn better by doing it yourself; rather than just reading from the book.

Let’s say you are reading about the Archimedes principle that states “The buoyant force or upthrust exerted on an object partially or completely immersed in water is equal to the weight of the water displaced by the object.”

You would be reading several examples explaining the principle like why does an air balloon float whereas the iron needle sinks in water. And you cram the concept and write exactly the same in your answer paper. But, did you ever try to learn and understand the principle? Ever tried using the principle in your daily life?

Did you know bathing in your bathtub is also dependent on the same principle? That’s why a level is engraved on the bath tub to warn people to avoid filling it beyond that level.

Yes, you might be a champ in memorising things and remembering them, but did you learn anything by simply reproducing it in the exam? This was just one concept, but you have to memorise a number of lessons for the exam and the process gets boring after sometime. You tend to lose your motivation as well.

“People often say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” Motivation needs to be constant in order to stay upbeat through your exams. Surround yourself with positive and hard-working people that keep you motivated to follow the right approach towards your exams.

Incorporate some fun experiments to learn your lessons, you will learn better and remain motivated to study and explore further. Use your imagination and creativity to think beyond the lines written in the chapter.

For example, while solving a Maths equation, just imagine a situation where you can fit those numbers and arrive at the answer. This helps to escape boredom and makes studying easier and fun.

Sharing his experience, Sena Alkadir from Garfield High School used a simulation of a presidential election to learn and understand the different aspects of elections in an interactive manner. “Although I knew everything about elections, but simulating an actual election helped me to understand better how they work and how do different groups have an influence over an election”, says Alkadir.

Having fun while studying is the reason for the rising trend of studying in groups, where students study, gossip, and enjoy together. After reading a particular topic, you can organise a quiz amongst yourselves to have fun and know how much you have learned and understood the chapter.

Do not keep your exam preparations for the last minute

Preparation for your exams, better to call it learning process needs to be consistent; just like an athlete needs to practice round the year and not only when the competition is near. If you focus on your learning process during regular school hours and while doing your homework the whole year, you need not panic at the time of exams. Examination time can then be utilised for revision of topics or practising your weaker subjects.

Many students argue that regular school hours are so hectic, plus, teachers resort to assigning loads of homework that they are not able to find time for any extra-curricular activities or outdoor games to relax their mind. This further leads to their loss of interest in studying and learning. They just feel like getting through the boring lectures delivered in class and finishing their homework whatsoever.

Sarah, a student in New Jersey remembers one of her experiences in school. Every day her class schedule was the same: read the chapter, complete the worksheets and copy down immense PowerPoints for the rest of the class. The only learning in class was to learn to write fast and continue writing even with hand cramps. “I never really learned anything in that class; I just memorised the information, took a test on it and then forgot everything. Imagine that cycle for an entire year. It was tremendously boring.”

True, the methods of teaching in many schools require students to be seated at their desks for long hours and listen to the lecture delivered. Such one-way teaching fails to maintain the student’s interest in the subject, more so in learning.

If the schools cater to the learning demands of the student and revise their teaching methods to make them interactive, it would benefit the students in the long run. However, you can suggest some ideas for interactive learning in your school because the trend is changing now and schools are open to new ideas and methods of teaching.

Setting an example of a practical approach to learning and its benefits to their students, the Head teacher at Manor Public School, Kate McGee explains how her school utilises practical activities like gardening, cooking, and filmmaking to teach English, Maths, Philosophy and other subjects.

In her opinion, children respond and learn better when engaged in practical activities, rather than reading from textbooks. They grow in confidence if you give them a task to do, which they are able to achieve. And this can be incorporated into teaching the curriculum in an effective, engaging and enjoyable way.

In case you resort to last minute preparations, which though are not advisable, set your priorities for studying a particular topic according to its relevance.

Plus, such learning won’t require continuous revision now and then and students will be better prepared for their exams. It opens their mind to a vast variety of experiences in the subject and raises their chances of success.

However, in case you resort to last minute preparations, which though are not advisable, set your priorities for studying a particular topic according to its relevance. Do not aim at completing the entire syllabus at the last moment; this will create an undue pressure and enhance your anxiety.

Just aim to cover the relevant topics and give your best shot. Amit, a class XII student of Green Fields School, New Delhi shares his story on this. He was a bright student and became a little overconfident of himself. He resorted to last minute studies for his exam thinking he already knows the concept and could make it with little revision at the final hour.

But, to his surprise when he sat down for studies, he realised that he had missed out on many topics and would not be able to cover the entire syllabus for the exam; leading to stress and anxiety. He then recalled the words of his Maths teacher, “If you can’t complete 100% of your syllabus, do it as much as you can, but give your 100% to that little chunk of the syllabus.”

What he meant to deliver through these words was that you must be consistent with your studies and learning throughout the year. Yet, if you feel you can complete only 60% of the syllabus at the exam time, do that 60% sincerely. Aiming for 100% at a short notice only makes you anxious and even that 60% will be lost, leaving you blank and completely helpless.

Be confident of yourself

“A great figure or physique is nice, but it is self-confidence that makes someone really beautiful.”

However, the undue pressure from the teachers and parents and vastness of the curriculum may leave some students with a lack of confidence in themselves. This not only occurs minutes before entering an examination hall but also haunts during exam preparations.

Students carrying books to the examination hall, flipping through pages at the last minute, and biting their nails is a common sight during these months. No, there is no harm to carry a textbook along to the examination hall, but experts recommend relaxing and thinking about happy stuff few minutes before the exam to combat anxiety.

Like you can think about some funny joke cracked by your friend or a comedy scene watched on TV before your exam. The idea is to relax and keep your mind deviated from the obvious anxiety before entering the examination hall.

Don’t let the pressure of your teachers and parents overpower you. Stay calm, have a positive approach towards yourself and your studies, and prepare well. Do not keep anything for the last moment revision just before entering an examination hall.

A great figure or physique is nice, but it is self-confidence that makes someone really beautiful

It’s advisable to review your chapters by organising a question answer session with your friend an evening before the day of the exam. The review helps to test your expertise on the subject, diagnose any flaws that need your attention and build your confidence to face the exam.

Moreover, the more you fear, more you will lose your confidence and more will be the stress. The only way to develop self-confidence is to do the things you fear. If you fear the subject of Maths, sit down and solve some equations, don’t fear whether you will do right or wrong, just do it and gradually you will experience self-confidence and a sense of achievement.

Remember the caption of the soft drink, “Mountain Dew”, “Darr ke Aage Jeet Hai”. It’s not only a caption to market their product, but reflects the truth of life. Until you indulge into doing the task, you won’t learn and won’t develop self-confidence.

Sleep tight and sleep on time

All are aware of the saying “Early to bed, early to rise makes the man healthy, wealthy and wise.” But the recommendation is now taken for granted and students do not pay any heed to it, thinking it to be a fool’s statement.

Though the significance of adequate sleep can’t be ignored even at normal times, examinations are the time to follow the advice more sincerely. Do not stay up late till night for your studies. Prepare your time-table accordingly so that you go to bed at the same time every day. This is in accordance with your body clock that is accustomed to sleeping and eating at particular times.

Any major changes with the routine will have negative effects on your body and mind, further disturbing your concentration and shaking your confidence. A good night’s sleep is essential for your brain to analyse and store the things you have read.

We are not forging into the bad effects of waking late till night; everyone is aware of it. The immediate tiredness and bad mood experienced says a lot about the bad effects of sleeping late at night. You not only have to sleep early but, also consider the daily sleeping routine which must be consistent.

Never go to bed reading a chapter or solving some heavy maths equation; your mind tends to reconcile on those things during sleep and you do not get complete rest. It is advisable to listen to some soft instrumental music or read a motivational story before going to bed.

What majority students do is wake up till 2-3 am at night romancing their textbooks and sleep late in the morning to cover up on their sleep. Either they wake up late wasting most part of their day or feel tired after rising. Have you ever realised what impact will this have on your concentration?

And then you blame the vast syllabus for your anxiety. It’s not the syllabus alone, rather your approach towards it that makes sense. You can either plan and maintain a balance between your health and studies or just keep on studying like an owl.

Moreover, staying awake till late hours on the day just prior to your exam is all the more harmful. Go to bed early on that day and wake up 15-30 minutes prior to your usual waking time so that you can get ready for the exam on time.

The correct method of study

Normally, students just cram their chapters and feel they are done with their preparation. But, when it’s time to write in an answer paper, they just go blank and are unable to recollect the answer.

To avoid this, it’s important to always take down the things you read in your own writing so that you remember them for a longer period of time and enhance your learning. The common habit of students is to highlight the major points in a chapter with a special pen and then keep on memorising it for hours.

No doubt highlighting the important points does serve your purpose of paying attention to the chunk of information from a pool of knowledge. Yet, writing down things in your own language reiterates the concept in your mind and you understand and retain for longer.

For example, while learning about the important dates of a historical event, you can create a small table highlighting the event with its date, so that you can just have a look at the gist of the information while revising the chapter.

Stressing the importance of writing your own notes, Nehmat Mongia, a student of Modern School, Barakhamba who scored more than 95% in her board exams said, “I used to write and rewrite everything I studied. I did so not for studying or remembering before the exams, but to understand things and it was as if only I could teach myself. I did just that and made studying a fun activity.”

Moreover, the place of your study has a deep impact on your concentration and ability to grasp your concepts. You have different sites mentioning the amount of light, the things to keep at the study table and to study only on the chair while preparing for your exams.

But, do you know how your study table and chair must be inclined? Many students are seen either slipping down into the chair or bending their necks down for long hours at studying. Your study table and the chair must be so designed that your neck remains straight while studying and your feet touches the ground while sitting.

How is posture related with exam stress? Not directly, but a bad posture while studying tends to hurt your neck and back muscles making them stiff. To attain maximum concentration while studying, you not only need a healthy mind but, also a healthy body.

If you are sick or suffering from pain anywhere in the body, you won’t be able to concentrate on your studies and would panic with anxiety.

Significance of a healthy diet during exams

The significance of a healthy diet can’t be overstressed at this hour. Many students believe in spending hours at their study table to prepare for their exams and in an extreme state give up eating proper meals and indulge in eating only fruits. They hold the opinion that eating much will make them feel sleepy and disturb their study routine.

But, actually, they don’t realise that eating well during exams is more crucial than at any other time. Avoiding meals to prevent falling asleep afterwards is not the solution. You must prepare your study routine to take time out for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This not only provides you with necessary nutrition but relaxes your mind from the burden of studies.

Sleepiness after a meal is mostly encountered if you consume food products with high amounts of fat like chips, fried products and so on. Keep your meals healthy and devoid of transfat and sugar to avoid feeling drowsy. In case you feel lethargic after a meal, listen to some instrumental and lively music for few minutes before sitting down for your studies.

“My appetite is dead. I don’t feel like eating anything. If I eat something, I will vomit.” These are the excuses commonly heard by the students during their exams. It happens because they think more and worry more about their performance in exams.

As the saying goes, “Fools worry, and wise prepare”, so it’s obvious you don’t want to behave like a fool at this hour. Eating the right thing at the right time is the secret behind healthy body and mind. Not only nutrition but what you eat can help you cope with your exam stress.

All the more, you can make meal time a learning time too. Have a look at the vegetables cooked for your lunch and dinner and try to memorise the vitamins and minerals you receive from them. Learning in this manner is fun and doesn’t create a burden on you for memorising the facts.

“Fools worry, and wise prepare”, so it’s obvious you don’t want to behave like a fool at this hour.

Eat smaller and frequent meals and avoid large meals at this time, as they tend to make you drowsy. Green vegetables, fruits like strawberries, amla, oranges, tomatoes, and whole grain cereals like oats, barley, and whole wheat are a must in your diet regime. For the non-vegetarians, eggs and lean meat provide the necessary memory boosting nutrients.

Treat water as your best friend in the examination days. However, do not keep a water bottle or a plate of snacks near your study place. This ensures that you get up and take a minutes’ walk around the house whenever you feel thirsty or hungry in between; breaking away from the sedentary routine of studying and relaxing your mind every few hours.

Take in these words with full attention. Do not take tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks at this stage. Many students take tea or coffee to help them stay awake till late in the night for their studies or to avoid sleepiness in between. But, such things do more harm than good.

Instead, if you feel sleepy, munch on some healthy snack like a vegetable sandwich or have a glass of water or take a walk outside in fresh air to refresh your mood and take a break from the study routine.

Do not compare yourself with your peers

Many students have a habit of discussing with their friends as to how many topics they have covered for the exam. There is nothing wrong with this custom till it keeps you motivated to prepare well for your exams.

However, if you start a comparison of yourself with your peers and look down upon yourself, the habit needs to be restricted. Every student has his own aptitude and pace of learning, even you have your own.

If you wish to discuss any doubt with your friends or plan an interactive quiz to check your knowledge, the conversation will be fruitful and rewarding for your learning and motivation. But, discussing and comparing yourself with others may have a negative impact on your confidence level.

If you feel that you are not confident enough and talking to your friends further demoralises you, stop indulging in such conversations before and during the exams. Even after completing the examination paper, do not discuss the answers with your peers. Be confident of your preparation and move ahead with any flaws you might discover therein.

Just remember, you are in competition with no one; just with yourself. If you find yourself better than yesterday, you achieve your goal. In fact, this trend of competition that has gripped our society today is more destructive than constructive for human minds.

Everybody is focusing on becoming better than the rest but no one focuses on being better than what they were yesterday; a notion that has led to a blind competition and stress in individuals. They never try to learn a new skill and be better equipped than yesterday, but wish to be ahead of others.

A scene in the Bollywood film 3 Idiots reminds us of this valuable theory of learning and not comparing with others. When Aamir khan was explaining the correct method of teaching to Boman Irani by using two useless words, he stressed the importance of learning and not paying attention to coming first or second in the class.

No one will pay attention to your class rank later in life, but how you perform today is what matters . And comparing yourself to others doesn’t make you learn, only increases your pressure and stress for the studies.

Do not underestimate yourself by comparing yourself with others. After all, it’s these differences that make us unique and beautiful. So, respect your differences with others and utilise them for your exam preparation.

Instead of comparing, leverage these differences in learning and propelling each other forward in exam preparations. For example, if you are good at algebra and your friend excels at vocabulary, you both can help each other with your respective weaker fields.

Pursue your hobbies even during exams

No fun, no chatting, and no shopping. This is the notion carried by most students during their exams. If not, it will be stressed by your parents; a big NO to everything. “Forget your mobile phones for few days, forget there is any cable connection in the house till your exams are over”, says your father.

Though some of these things prove to be distracting from your studies, but, giving them up completely is not advisable. You can’t sit glued to your chair for the whole day peeping into your textbooks; your mind needs to de-stress and relax in between, but the pressure from your parents doesn’t let you indulge in them.

However, it depends upon you how you use these mediums; only in moderation to relax your mind or become completely distracted from your studies. If you use them in moderation at particular times to break free from the sedentary routine of studying, no parents would pose an objection.

In fact, many parents encourage their children to engage in their hobbies or favourite pastime even during exams to help them de-stress their minds. As said before, exams are not punishing times, but, an opportunity to test your knowledge and know your strengths and weaknesses. So, why change your routine during the exams, why drift apart from your hobbies?

M. Gayathri, the All- India CBSE topper of the year 2015 pursued her hobbies even during the board exams as she revealed to a The Hindustan Times reporter. Talking about her relaxing tip, she added “Unlike others, I did not discontinue my hobbies during the exams. In fact, singing and painting helped me to de-stress during that time.”

What can be inferred from her experience is that stress is common and obvious during examination time. However, do not let stress overpower you, simply find ways to cope with it, just like Gayathri did by engaging herself in singing and painting.

Yet, another trend seen amongst students is planning for their exam preparation in advance. No doubt, we do advise to plan out a timetable for studying, exercises, meal time, and relaxation. But, how should you go about these plans is the main catch?

Do not plan your entire preparations for the month or a week at one go, but go about planning each day step by step. If you plan for the entire week or month, chances are high that you won’t be able to stick to them and get demotivated and stressed in return.

Contrastingly, planning for each day step by step keeps you motivated and rewards you with a sense of achievement at the end of the day. Indulge in giving yourself a treat when you accomplish your task every day.

Sukriti Gupta, the All-India CBSE topper of the last year doesn’t believe in excessive planning for the exams but taking one step at a time. She further advises other students preparing for their exams to follow NCERT books strictly, not fall into the trap of studying for 14 hours a day and not to expect any last minute miracles.

She further owes her success to the regular routine she followed, be it for her studies, diet regime or exercises.

There is no short-cut to success; hard work and consistency in your preparations is the only key.

Related Topics:board exams CBSE education Exams India India's Largest School and Education News Network News parents ScooNews Stress Students Study

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Nirvaan Birla on Why Social Media Needs a Rethink in Today’s Classrooms

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1 day ago

August 7, 2025

Team ScooNews

Nirvaan Birla, Founder, Birla Open Minds urges a rethink on social media in classrooms

What happens when self-worth becomes a scrolling statistic? When confidence is measured in likes, validation is sought in comments, and a missed post feels like a missed opportunity, social media quietly becomes more than a platform; it becomes a mirror that distorts.

For the younger generation, the digital world isn’t an escape. It’s their reality. What once was a space for fun and connection now silently dictates their self-image, decisions, and even mental health. A carefully crafted caption, the right filter, or a viral reel can spark joy, but it can also fuel anxiety, insecurity, and constant comparison.

As engaging as social media is, it comes with an invisible cost. The pressure to be constantly available, consistently appealing, and endlessly relevant can take a toll. Many teenagers find themselves trapped in a loop of approval-seeking, often mistaking online popularity for personal worth.

Online peer pressure has evolved from being subtle to strategic. Likes are currency, stories are reputation, and every post is performance. Combine that with cyberbullying, misinformation, and the relentless pace of content, and you’ve got a digital space that’s as overwhelming as it is addictive.

Yet, knowing how to use social platforms doesn’t mean knowing how to handle them. Digital literacy has surged, but digital emotional intelligence still needs nurturing.

Recognising the urgency of this shift, Nirvaan Birla, Founder of Birla Open Minds, shared, “We see it every day. The impact social media is having on the younger generation’s mental and emotional wellbeing is significant. That is why at Birla Open Minds, we have initiated sessions like ‘Likes vs. Life’ across our schools. These sessions are designed to help learners reflect on their relationship with social media, how it affects their confidence, their focus, and their sense of self. Our larger vision is to shape not just academically strong individuals but also emotionally resilient ones who can navigate the digital world with awareness and responsibility.”

The idea isn’t to villainize social media. It’s to humanize its users. What the younger generation needs most isn’t just digital access, but digital awareness. The ability to pause. To question. To ask: Is this who I really am, or just who I’m trying to be online. Because beyond the reels, hashtags, and likes lies something far more important: life. And that should never be lived for an algorithm.

Education

Teaching Privilege: Why It Belongs in Every Classroom

Published

2 weeks ago

July 25, 2025

Dhruv Chhabra

Why students must learn to recognise privilege in school—and how that awareness can build empathy, not guilt. (Representational AI Image)

Here’s the thing about privilege: most of us don’t even realise how it shapes our choices, our comfort zones and the opportunities we chase

I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, but it hit me harder during a recent conversation with a college student. One of the factors they had in mind while choosing their higher education institution was that most of the students there came from similar economic backgrounds. They felt uneasy at the thought of being in a space where others might be less privileged than them. And just like that, it became clear: even the discomfort of being around inequality is, in itself, a kind of privilege.

Here’s the thing: privilege wears many faces. Money, yes. But also caste. Gender. Language. Skin tone. Disability. Geography. And then there’s what Gen Z calls “pretty privilege”—the unspoken perks of fitting society’s standards of attractiveness. These aren’t abstract ideas. They play out every day—in who gets picked, who gets heard, who gets help without asking.

This isn’t about guilt. Guilt gets us nowhere. Awareness, though? That’s powerful. Students should be taught to recognise the invisible lifts they get. It’s not just that some kids have better shoes—it’s that they’ve never had to worry about having shoes. It’s not just about who studies in English-medium schools—it’s about who gets praised for speaking English at all.

Privilege doesn’t cancel out hard work. It explains the head start. And when students understand that, they become better humans. They stop seeing success as a solo act and start acknowledging the small privileges they enjoy. These can be supportive families, access to tutors, clean water, a safe route to school. Things so normal for some, they fade into the background. Afterall, acknowledgment is the first step to building empathy.

So where do schools come in? Right at the heart of it. Not with token assemblies or once-a-year poster competitions, but with consistent conversations. Through stories, books, theatre, debates—whatever gets them to look up from their own experience and into someone else’s. Not to feel bad, but to build perspective. And maybe, just maybe, to use their privilege to lift someone else.

This isn’t about shaming anyone or turning life into a comparison game. It’s about empathy and responsibility. When students know they benefit from privilege, they can harness it to help others. They can mentor younger kids, fundraise for resources, or simply speak up when they see inequality in the classroom.

This isn’t a curriculum change. It’s a mindset shift. It’s the difference between raising achievers and raising citizens. If we teach kids to see both their own comfort and the struggles of others, we’ll nurture a generation that doesn’t just accept their advantages but shares them too.

If we want an education system that prepares students for the real world, then recognising privilege isn’t a side-topic. It’s foundational.

(This article is authored by Dhruv Chhabra, Lead-Content and Design at ScooNews and reflects the author’s personal beliefs and lived observations as an education journalist and storyteller. It is written with the hope that classrooms can become kinder, more aware spaces.)

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India Plans Unified Higher Education Regulator: What the HECI Bill Means

Published

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Team ScooNews

India proposes HECI to subsume UGC/AICTE/NCTE, promising unified standards for higher education

India is on the verge of a major overhaul in how it governs higher education, with the government aiming to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). The move, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, seeks to create a more efficient, autonomous, and accountable regulatory system.

Why Replace UGC, AICTE & NCTE?

The current structure—with multiple agencies overseeing different sectors—has long faced criticism for being fragmented and bureaucratic. Overlaps in jurisdiction, slow decision-making, and limited autonomy for institutions have prompted calls for reform. Committees like the Yash Pal and National Knowledge Commission have recommended a unified regulator to reduce red tape and improve coordination.

What HECI Will Look Like

According to the draft and Lok Sabha updates by Education Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar, HECI will have four independent verticals:

Regulation (NHERC) – compliance and governance
Accreditation (NAC) – quality assurance
Grants (HEGC) – performance-based funding
Academic Standards (GEC) – curriculum and learning outcomes

This “light but tight” approach aims to foster innovation and autonomy while maintaining integrity and transparency.

Potential Benefits

Streamlined oversight: Instead of navigating multiple authorities, institutions will liaise with one regulator.
Better resource allocation: Integrated funding vertical offers performance incentives, echoing models in the UK and Australia.
Unified standards: Accreditation and curriculum will be uniform, reducing interstate disparities.
Global alignment: Can enhance India’s appeal with international quality frameworks.

Risks & Concerns

Centralisation: Experts warn that vesting extensive power in one body may over-centralise control, risking academic freedom.
Loss of specialised oversight: Domain experts from UGC, AICTE, and NCTE may be diluted.
Bureaucratic inertia: Transition could bring its own delays and resistance from existing bodies.
Compliance complexity: Institutions may face confusion adapting to new norms and vertical structures.

Global Inspiration & Way Forward

Many countries offer models worth emulating: the UK’s Office for Students (OfS), Australia’s TEQSA, and the US’s accreditation agencies show that one-regulator systems can work—if they strike a balance between oversight and autonomy. The NEP framework supports this, but success hinges on a smooth transition, capacity building, and safeguarding academic freedom.

In short, HECI is more than an institutional reshuffle. It has the potential to redefine Indian higher education—if implemented thoughtfully. The challenge now lies in building consensus, streamlining regulatory roles, and ensuring this new body empowers institutions, not constrains them.

This news has been sourced from various media outlets, with parts of it written and contextualised by the ScooNews editorial team.

Education

Student Suicides Account for 7.6% of All Cases in India: What the Govt Is Doing Next

Published

2 weeks ago

July 23, 2025

Team ScooNews

Multi-pronged measures were being rolled out to address the crisis, including psychological support for students, teachers, and families.

In a sobering update shared in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, revealed that student suicides constituted 7.6% of all suicide cases reported in India in 2022. While marginally lower than the figures in 2021 (8.0%) and 2020 (8.2%), the data underlines an ongoing mental health crisis among the nation’s youth.

The statistics were drawn from the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), as per the minister’s written response in Parliament.

Recognising the urgency of the matter, the Centre has ramped up efforts to address student mental health through a multi-pronged strategy. This includes psychological support not only for students but also for educators and families, aiming to create a more holistic safety net within the education system.

As reported by The Indian Express, Minister Majumdar highlighted the Ministry of Education’s Manodarpan initiative, which has reached lakhs of students across India through tele-counselling, webinars, and live interactions. Parallel efforts under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) now cover 767 districts, offering suicide prevention services and life skills training in schools and colleges.

Adding to this, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued advisories to higher education institutions urging them to prioritise student welfare, fitness, and emotional well-being. Institutions like IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have started conducting resilience-building and stress management workshops under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme.

Addressing addiction among youth, the Centre has also intensified anti-drug campaigns to accompany its mental health outreach.

Separately, the Ministry of Education is in the process of drafting legislation to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), aiming to unify regulation under a single authority. The new body will replace existing agencies like the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE, aligning with the NEP 2020 vision of a “light but tight” governance framework that promotes autonomy, innovation, and accountability.

Education

When AI Reaches the Top of Bloom’s—and Our Students Are Left Behind

Published

4 weeks ago

July 14, 2025

Namrata Pant

In a world where AI can mimic art, our children must master the art of being human (Representational AI Image)

We often talk about how AI is transforming education, but are we talking enough about what it’s quietly taking away?

CREATIVITY

As Sir Ken Robinson often reminded us,“Creativity is as important as literacy.”

And yet, in a system so focused on marks, rubrics, and outcomes,creativity is often the first thing we sacrifice.

Bloom’s Taxonomy places Creating right at the top,but in many classrooms today, it feels like AI has reached that level faster than our students have.While children are still figuring out sentence structure and grammar, AI is already generating poems, paintings, and polished presentations with a single click.

Which brings us to a deeply uncomfortable question:

What happens when AI starts to “create”?
And more importantly—what happens when our students stop?

Today’s AI isn’t truly creative.It mimics. It reuses. It draws from patterns and reproduces what’s already been done.And if we don’t pause now to protect what’s uniquely human,we risk raising a generation of students who know how to use tools,but don’t know how to think.

Everything’s Starting to Look the Same

I’ve seen it. You’ve probably seen it too.

Creative writing tasks that sound strangely uniform.Artwork that feels formulaic.Presentations that are polished, yes, but empty.AI has democratised access to intelligence,but in doing so, it has started to flatten creativity.We’re now at a point where students are outsourcing not just answers,but imagination.

But true creativity cannot be prompted.It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s born out of thinking, feeling, failing, and trying again. It lives in how we interpret the world. In how we care. In how we connect.

How Can We Bring Creativity Back?

We need to bring back the building blocks of creativity.

READ
Let students read more deeply,not just skim or summarise.Let them feel what’s in the pages, get lost in ideas, debate their favourite character in a book or movie, and form their own emotional connections.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Let’s re-focus on learning through doing,projects, fieldwork, play, nature, making mistakes, working with hands, collaborating, and reflecting.It’s in these non-linear, real-world experiences that creativity quietly blooms.

FINDING THE PURPOSE
We need to pause and ask: What is this child truly passionate about?
It could be animals, gardening, football, art—anything that sparks joy and curiosity.
Once we discover that passion, we can connect learning to it.
Let’s not just ask what they’re reading, but why they’re reading it.
What inspires them? How can that interest help them solve real-world problems?
That’s when learning becomes meaningful,and creativity starts to flow with purpose.

Because by the time they grow up,the world won’t just need people who can use AI – It will need people who can imagine what AI cannot.

(more…)

Education

Design and the Future of Learning: How Architecture is Shaping Next-Gen Schools

Published

1 month ago

July 8, 2025

Vinod and Ranju Singhi

Schools Undergoing Change in India
Schools in India are undergoing a major transformation. Teaching methods are evolving, and schools must meet rising expectations from students, parents, and educators. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has introduced a fresh approach to learning, making it essential for new schools to be designed with these ideas in mind. Older campuses also need thoughtful upgrades and renovations to keep pace.

Schools must adapt to stay relevant in the years ahead. Designing flexible, future-ready spaces is no longer optional, it is vital for creating learning environments that will serve new generations for decades to come.

Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is reshaping education by focusing on hands-on, experience-based learning. It encourages students to take part in activities, real-world problem-solving, and interactive projects that spark curiosity and innovation. Collaboration is central — students work together to tackle challenges, share ideas, and find solutions. This approach deepens understanding and builds teamwork and communication skills needed for future work.

The Importance of Collaboration
Creating spaces that foster experiential learning, enhance engagement, and build critical thinking is essential. Collaborative spaces are a core part of modern school design. They encourage active learning and help students grasp concepts in a deep and meaningful way. By fostering collaboration, schools enable students to develop the skills necessary for success in a rapidly changing world.

Evolving Traditional Classrooms
Traditional classrooms are changing fast. The old rows of desks facing the teacher are giving way to flexible layouts that support different ways of learning. Today’s classrooms can easily switch between standard seating for lectures, conference-style setups for group work, seminar formats for presentations, or campfire circles for open discussions.

Good spatial design plays a big role in building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A well-designed classroom makes it easy to rearrange furniture for each activity, helping students engage more, think creatively, and learn better together. Studies show students are more motivated and focused in classrooms that adapt to different teaching styles and make learning more interactive.

Spatial Design to Encourage Collaboration
Classrooms with movable furniture allow easy reconfiguration for group work, individual study, or interactive discussions. Flexibility is crucial in modern school design, with modular furniture, movable walls, and multipurpose rooms adapting to different needs. Removing long corridors and creating learning commons with classrooms around them is another innovative approach. Classrooms can open into these commons using sliding or folding partitions, creating a cohesive learning environment. Combining classrooms allows teachers to teach multiple groups together,
building a sense of community.

Breakout spaces offer small areas for group discussions, brainstorming, or quiet study, with comfortable seating and whiteboards. Makerspaces equipped with tools and materials foster innovation and hands-on learning by allowing students to apply theory in practice. Outdoor learning areas like gardens or amphitheaters add variety and encourage creativity. Technology-integrated spaces with interactive whiteboards and projectors enhance collaboration by making it easy for students to work together and share ideas. Learning pods provide semi-private spots for group work or individual study. Transparent walls and large windows create openness and bring in natural light, inspiring students to stay engaged.

Designing for well-being & Inclusion
Natural light, vibrant colours, and good acoustics make learning spaces more engaging. Inclusivity is essential so that diverse needs and abilities are accommodated, ensuring all students can succeed. Cross ventilation, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality are equally important — they improve physical comfort and well-being, helping students focus better.

Creativity is also key in effective learning spaces. From preschools to K-12, classrooms should inspire imagination and encourage students to think beyond the ordinary. Thoughtful design elements help create environments where curiosity and innovation thrive.

Conclusion
The future of learning will continue to evolve, but well-designed spaces will always play a central role. As educators and designers, we have a unique responsibility to create environments that inspire curiosity, spark ideas, and
support every learner’s journey. By designing schools that are flexible, inclusive, and future-ready, we build not just better classrooms but a stronger foundation for generations to come.

This article is authored by Vinod and Ranju Singhi, the Co-Founders and Principal Architects of BASICS Architects.

Education

Government Doubles Down on Coaching Centres: New Panel Signals Stronger Regulation Ahead

Published

1 month ago

June 26, 2025

Team ScooNews

Education Ministry panel to tackle dummy schools and curb overdependence on coaching centres.

In a decisive step toward reforming India’s fragmented senior secondary education system, the Ministry of Education has constituted an 11-member high-level committee to address the mushrooming of dummy schools and the unchecked influence of coaching centres. Chaired by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, the committee includes representatives from CBSE, NCERT, and faculty from IITs in Madras, Kanpur, and Trichy.

The move is seen as part of a growing policy consensus across central and state governments to reclaim the authority of schools, following recent crackdowns and reforms aimed at regulating coaching institutions and curbing the dummy school culture that sidelines holistic education.

Dummy schools — where students are officially enrolled but rarely attend — have emerged as a by-product of India’s competitive entrance exam culture. These institutions prioritise JEE, NEET, and CUET preparation through coaching classes, while students disengage from formal schooling. The CBSE’s March 2025 advisory warning that students from dummy schools could be barred from board exams marked a serious turning point in policy enforcement.

Earlier this year, the Delhi Government carried out inspections in over 600 private schools, issuing notices to at least 10 for running dummy setups. The move followed media reports and parental complaints about students being denied regular schooling in favour of coaching arrangements.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Cabinet approved a bill in April 2025 to regulate coaching centres operating in Kota and other education hubs. The legislation aims to curb exploitative practices, mandate mental health counsellors, and prevent coaching centres from operating without a minimum infrastructure standard—prompted by rising student suicides in the state.

Central Framework and Industry Oversight

In February 2025, the Central Government announced a new framework for coaching centres, proposing registration, transparency in fee structures, and guidelines on advertising to prevent misleading claims. Together with the current committee’s formation, these reforms indicate a systematic tightening of oversight at all levels.

The new panel’s mandate is broad. It will investigate:

The socio-academic reasons behind the rise of dummy schools
The misalignment between school curricula and competitive exams
The impact of coaching on student well-being and critical thinking
The need to promote alternate career pathways beyond engineering and medicine
Regulations around coaching advertisements and contract practices

A National Rethink on the Purpose of Schooling

Education experts like Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal have welcomed the initiative, calling it “a vital opportunity to restore the sanctity of school education.” The rise of coaching centres as parallel systems, she noted, has come at the cost of creativity, values, and even mental health in adolescents.

As India contemplates the future of its learners, the Ministry’s recent actions suggest a serious intent to bridge the gap between boardrooms and classrooms. Whether the new committee’s recommendations lead to tangible change remains to be seen, but the signals are clear: education in India must prepare children for life, not just for an entrance exam.

Education

How to Win Back Wandering Minds: Post-Summer Edition

Published

2 months ago

June 24, 2025

Renu Sharma

(Image Source: Envato Elements)

The dopamine-rich scrolling in late mornings with amorphous freedom has made our zealous students so comfortable that they are re-entering their classrooms with minds tuned to instant gratification, not delayed rewards. Now the challenge isn’t just academics but to re-engage our bud’s attention and curiosity. Neuroscience backed motivation strategies and intentional school design could prove to be a catalyst as it will bring a positive change and enable the students to learn at a better pace.

1. Rewiring the Dopamine rush with 2 Ps, Purpose and Productivity:

Neuroscience says: Where our brains are functional to seek novelty and purpose on their own, during summer break, the buds often lean into adding the activities to their routine which are unpredictable, quick, and rewarding referring back to instant gratification, these activities may include social media, gaming, and chatting anonymously and grateful to internet and inventions, there are plethora of platforms enabling students to be distracted. And then joining back the school with a gradual drip of delayed academic rewards may seem to be a let-down for students.

Actionable tip: We as facilitators have to be the mystery-solvers channeling their energy into productivity, enlightening them with real-world challenges, interdisciplinary projects, or a mystery to solve that taps into their intrinsic curiosity. Novelty may allow us to reset their attention-even primitive changes in surrounding like rearranged desks, learning outdoors, and using the BALA method to utilize infrastructure, can signal a shift in engagement and productivity.

2. Design for Autonomy and Flow

Neuroscience says:

Neuroscience tells us that motivation really flourishes when students feel they have some control over their learning. The brain’s reward system kicks in when choices are part of the equation, especially regarding how tasks are structured or what content is covered.

Here’s a practical tip: give students structured choices, like deciding which book to dive into, which problem to tackle first, or how they want to present their findings. A design that promotes flow—complete with clear goals, manageable challenges, and instant feedback—helps keep students in that ideal zone, avoiding both boredom and anxiety.

3. Rebuild Social Motivation Through Spaces That Connect

Neuroscience tells us that connecting with peers is a huge motivator, especially after the pandemic. Our brains are wired for social interaction, which plays a key role in how we learn and engage emotionally.

Actionable tip: Create flexible seating arrangements or common areas that encourage group work and casual collaboration. Try incorporating daily activities like “curiosity circles” or peer-led problem-solving sessions to foster a sense of belonging and shared learning objectives.

4. Leverage Routines to Rewire Attention

Neuroscience shows that our habits influence our attention. After a summer of scattered focus, students thrive on rhythmic and consistent routines that help retrain their executive functions.

Actionable tip: Kick off classes with familiar “mind-on” rituals — whether it’s a thought-provoking question, a brief reflection, or a quiet sketch — to help anchor their attention. Consistency breeds comfort, and that comfort boosts confidence.

5. Make Joy a Design Priority

Neuroscience indicates that positive emotions can enhance learning by boosting neuroplasticity. When students (and teachers) experience joy, they’re more likely to engage deeply and retain what they learn.

Actionable tip: Infuse joyful moments into the day — through fun challenges, movement breaks, or a bit of humor. Allow time for students to share what excites them. A joyful classroom isn’t just a nicer place to be; it’s also more effective for learning.

Conclusion: To capture wandering minds, we need to understand how motivation truly works and design both our curriculum and learning spaces to support it. When we ignite curiosity, honor autonomy, and weave joy into the experience, even the sleepiest summer brain can come alive again.

This article is written by:

Renu Sharma
Assistant Director – Systems – Indirapuram Group of Schools
Principal – Indirapuram Public School – Crossings Republik

Education

Assam Brings Sign Language to Senior Secondary Classrooms in Landmark Move

Published

2 months ago

June 24, 2025

Team ScooNews

Assam makes room for silence: Sign Language joins Higher Secondary curriculum (Image credit: @thebetterindia)

The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) has announced the introduction of Sign Language as an elective subject for Higher Secondary (Classes XI–XII) from the current academic year.

Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu made the announcement during the inauguration of a residential AI training programme for teachers at IIT Guwahati. While Artificial Intelligence and Financial Literacy were also introduced as new electives, Sign Language stood out as a critical stride towards making classrooms more accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

“This is not just about a subject; it’s about acknowledging communication rights,” said Dr. Pegu, who also unveiled a specially designed AI textbook at the event. The textbook was developed in collaboration with experts from IIT Guwahati and Dibrugarh University. He added that the curriculum reforms are aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of equity, inclusion, and skill readiness.

According to education officials, the rollout of Sign Language will begin in institutions where qualified educators or resource personnel are available. Training for teachers is expected to be scaled up across the coming months. The subject aims to raise awareness about Indian Sign Language (ISL), improve communication access for students with hearing impairments, and sensitise peers to inclusive practices from a young age.

Later in the day, Dr. Pegu chaired a review meeting with officials from the Department of School Education to discuss budget allocations and planning for the 2025–26 academic year. While schemes like the Chief Minister’s Nijut Moina initiative, distribution of bicycles for Class IX girls, and the upgradation of Bodo-medium schools were discussed, the emphasis remained on delivering structural reforms that bridge equity gaps in access and opportunity.

The addition of Sign Language, AI, and Financial Literacy as electives reflects a broader shift in how Assam is reimagining school education — one where life skills, digital literacy, and inclusive values are no longer optional, but integral.

Education

History, Identity, and Pride: Books That Make Sense of Being You

Published

2 months ago

June 11, 2025

Dhruv Chhabra

When classrooms fall short, books can become lifelines for teens exploring queer identities in India. (Representational AI Image)

Every June, rainbow flags go up, corporate logos get a splash of colour, and the words Pride Month fill our timelines. But behind this month-long celebration lies something far deeper — an entire universe of history, identity, and stories that often remain outside the margins of our textbooks, especially here in India.

When we talk about queer histories, most people quickly say: Pride is an American concept. And yes, the Stonewall Riots of 1969 are often marked as the start of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. But to believe that queer identities only exist where the parades happen is both lazy and inaccurate. Because if you look carefully — at temple walls, ancient texts, and folklore — you’ll find that India, too, has always had queer stories. We’ve just failed to write them down as part of our “official” history.

Take Mahabharat — where Shikhandi, a warrior born as a woman but raised as a man, plays a crucial role in Bhishma’s death. Or Brihannala, Arjuna’s year-long identity as a eunuch. Look at Khajuraho or Konark temples — where fluid sexual depictions exist without judgement. Even Mughal records speak softly of same-sex companionship. Yet none of these ever made it to our history chapters. Why? Because of historiography — the selective way in which history gets written, where lived experiences are often filtered through political, cultural or moral lenses. What we’re left with is history that’s comfortable — not always complete.

But while adults debate culture wars, there’s a rising generation of Indian teens who are quietly asking braver questions. More kids today — some as young as 12 or 13 — are exploring their gender identities, sexual orientations, or even just the vocabulary to describe what they feel. And many of them don’t know who to turn to. Some are scared of being mocked by peers. Others fear judgement from family. Teachers, too, often don’t have the training or language to guide them. The result? Stories like Aarvey Malhotra’s — a young boy who couldn’t bear the bullying he faced for his gender expression — remind us how deadly this silence can be.

Arvey Malhotra with his mother Aarti Malhotra

So where can these kids turn? Sometimes, the safest place to meet yourself is inside a book.

Here’s a small, carefully chosen list of books (curated with the help of AI) that may help teens (13+) begin that journey of understanding — about themselves or others:

1. Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon

Written by a gender non-conforming writer of Indian origin, this is a short, deeply accessible introduction to gender fluidity.

2. The Boy & The Bindi by Vivek Shraya (Illustrated by Rajni Perera)

While more suitable for slightly younger kids, this beautifully illustrated book helps children embrace non-conformity and Indian culture together.

3. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders

An excellent way to understand where the modern pride movement began, told through the story of the Pride flag’s creation.

4. Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms by Maria Cook

Written for teens, this breaks down gender identity, expression, dysphoria and non-binary identities in simple, compassionate language.

5. The Queer Hindu: A Spiritual Perspective by Devdutt Pattanaik (Selected Essays)

While not strictly a children’s book, certain essays by Pattanaik can open doors for older teens who wish to explore how queerness exists within Indic traditions.

6.Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

A young-adult novel that tackles identity, family, and justice in a tender, imaginative way by a non-binary author.

7. When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff

For kids exploring trans experiences, this picture book offers a gentle, positive portrayal of gender transition.

(Book covers- Amazon.in, Goodreads)

So why does Pride matter in schools?

This isn’t about imposing ideologies — it’s about offering answers to kids who are already asking. And if we want fewer kids like Aarvey to feel alone, confused, or ashamed, we need to stop treating gender and sexuality like topics too complicated for them to understand. They’re not. What they need are trusted spaces, the right words, and adults who listen without first judging.

After all, education was always meant to make us more human — and queerness, in all its forms, is part of that humanity.