Gujarat Chief Minister to Participate in 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' with 14.3 Lakh Students

Gandhinagar, Feb 9 (NationPress) In an effort to alleviate examination stress for students, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will engage in a motivational session with students of Crystal International Public School in Ahmedabad on Monday, as part of the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' initiative.

The nationwide eighth edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' is aimed at motivating students preparing for board exams to approach their studies without stress or fear. The program seeks to offer guidance and inspiration to students ahead of their board examinations.

The live broadcast of the event will be available in over 40,000 schools throughout Gujarat via various digital platforms, ensuring extensive participation.

This event will unite 14.3 lakh students from Classes 10 and 12, including those from both science and general streams, as well as students from Classes 6 to 12, cultivating a spirit of exam readiness and motivation across the state.

In Gujarat, recent studies have revealed alarming levels of stress among the youth, especially in academic environments.

A study conducted among undergraduate students in the Mehsana district showed that 41.05% experienced stress, with different levels of severity: 9.32% faced mild stress, 12.18% moderate stress, 10.07% severe stress, and 9.47% extremely severe stress.

Likewise, research involving medical students in South Gujarat indicated that 51.1% of participants reported stress, with a mean Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score of 27.20 ± 6.58. The primary factors contributing to this stress included concerns regarding the quality of food in mess facilities, inadequate road connectivity on campus, and pressure related to academic performance.

A study of undergraduate students aged 18-24 in the Mehsana district revealed that 41.05% experienced stress, with varying degrees of severity: 9.32% were mildly stressed, 12.18% moderately stressed, 10.07% severely stressed, and 9.47% extremely severely stressed. Furthermore, a study focusing on higher secondary science students found that nearly 32% faced depression, with higher rates noted in female students (37.28%) compared to males (29.90%).

Additionally, 20.59% of these students suffered from dysthymia, and 1.64% were identified as having suicidal risk. Notably, students in Class 12 showed higher rates of depression (38.06%) than those in Class 11 (25.98%). Among medical students in Gujarat, a study indicated varying levels of depression severity: 29.4% experienced minimal depression, 34% mild, 19% moderate, 12% moderately severe, and 5.6% severe depression.