Pareeksha pe Charcha

Pareeksha pe Charcha
​
The initiative of interaction with exam-writing children of the country, started by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi five years ago, has taken a shape of mass movement. The same is palpable among the students who are preparing for their annual examinations or board examinations, who have been talking about it and are eagerly awaiting for the Friday’s interaction. The Pareeksha pe Charcha 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to be the sixth edition of Pareeksha pe Charcha, where students, parents and teachers, all stakeholders of the future of the country, will interact with the Prime Minister and share their experiences. This unique interaction will be a one of its kind opportunity for millions of students to know about the teaching, studying and learning methods being adopted by their peers, and much more, through observational learning. This time, the participants will not only be awarded with an online participation certificate but will also be given a copy of the book “Exam Warrior” written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The learning system and techniques across the World has undergone a sea change in the 21st century. Pedagogy today is laying more and more emphasis on holistic development of children than just their cognitive development. The National Education Policy 2020 also envisions creating well-rounded citizens who are equipped with the key 21st century skills like, communication, cooperation, team work and resilience. Learning is being designed in such a manner which nurtures development of such competencies and enable character building in them. For imparting such holistic development of students and equipping the adults of tomorrow with life skills which will assist them in growth, self-preservation and sustainable development, mental health and well-being is of utmost importance. In fact, mental health and well-being serves as the bedrock to the foundations of personality or psycho-social and socio-cognitive growth and development of a child. Further, right and adequate learning in the critical years or foundational years of child’s growth is very important in shaping the young humans who are ready to take on the challenges they will be faced with in their lives. Students during these formative years go through different stages of development and undergo various changes and face different challenges at each stage. Each student, to varying degree, experiences stress while adapting to various stress factors like study related anxiety, examination pressure, peer pressure, mood swings, and anxieties related to examination and results. In a country like India, where millions of students appear for board examinations, competitive examinations and entrance tests, competitiveness has crossed all levels and has become a bane for the young boys and girls, instead of being virtuous. The mental stress and anxiety of performance and obtaining good results leaves deep impact on the young minds. The present day reality is that students have a wide range of concerns ranging from personal, social, emotional, educational and career choices related challenges, and stress and anxiety related to competitions, academics, etc. The problem has been burgeoning with time and increasing each year causing concern for parents and government, alike.
It was in this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the month of February of 2018 spoke directly to students, parents and teachers on the topic of examination and its related aspects. Prime Minister authored the book “Exam Warriors” on the same topic giving insightful knowledge and mantras to help students prepare for examinations apart from tips on how to tackle stress and be honest and true to their duties as students. The Prime Minister urged all to keep the student in oneself alive, forever. The Prime Minister also gave the mantra that one should always see himself or herself as his or her main competitor in order to excel, in every aspect, in all spheres of life. Overall, the book teaches one to take examinations like festivals and enjoy it as a process rather than be limited by their own mental blockages. The effort was well received among students, parents and teachers and it started a culture of discussion to manage stress among students taking examination.
Over the past five years, the initiative of the Prime Minister has satisfactorily helped many students of the country do better in their academics. The annual event also acts as a forum where students are able to understand their own fear and anxiety hearing it from their peers, they are able to get their doubts cleared regarding their exam fear, online classes, gaming addiction and other psychological barriers created in their minds due to faulty or fragmented learning. Overall, the unique opportunity enables us all to celebrate unique individualities of all our children, putting examination in the right perspective rather than a paranoia. The message of the annual event and from the Prime Minister is to make learning enjoyable, fulfilling and a journey which continues all our lives.
India is the country with the largest human resource capital. It is perhaps the largest human resource capital which is the youngest in the World. To maximise the benefits of the wealth India has, the young and old alike have to be armed in the best way possible to face the challenges of the present times, and prepare them for the future. Giving a healthy mind, and a positive mindset to the progeny is not only the work of the Government, but also the society. The examinations which are becoming more and more tough and competitive at the same time, can potentially bring negative impact on young and tender minds, and if not dissipated properly, the examination stress will do tremendous harm to children, when not managed. Barring yoga and meditation, there are no better ways than having a talk or discussion with friends and family to tackle the problems of examination stress or other mental stress. While, the Government is pushing all to practice Yoga and has even made the United Nations recognise a day, 21st June, as the International Day of Yoga, it is also making all out efforts to channelize the mental stress among our young exam warriors by holding such live interactions with all stakeholders, family, teachers along with the children at an international level, enabling them better understand how and why they react to external pressures and other variables, coping with such pressures, and utilising the energy in creative manner.
Following up on the initiative of the Prime Minister, National Education Policy 2020 acknowledged the importance of mental health and well-being so that students can meet their learning potential, cope with stress and openly connect with their friends and community. The Ministry of Education launched an initiative “Manodarpan” under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, to address mental health and well-being. The Manodarpan cell of NCERT also conducted a mental health survery which was the first comprehensive survey on mental health of school-going children in the year 2022. The significance of the survey is that it provides an understanding of the factors affecting mental health, more as contributing to well-being of students and thus the findings have implications on efforts being made to promote overall development of students by various stakeholders. One of the major findings of the survey has been that apart from assessments and appraisals, parameters should be included to assess the social and emotional competencies of all students to ensure their holistic development. The same is also a part of National Education Policy, 2020 wherein it visualises that such parameters be made part of the child’s holistic progress card, so that the children go up as well-rounded adults having the ability to adapt to changes in the fast changing and competitive World.