The letter states that counselors, teachers and parents can work together to harmonise the holistic personality of students by focusing on the development of life skills such as critical and creative thinking, problem solving and decision making, coping with emotions and dealing with stress.

This would enable students to maintain calm, poise and equip them with skills/ tools to cope with negative emotions.

The students’ helpline run by the board will be functional from Thursday and the numbers will be available on the website www.cbse.nic.in . The helpline will continue till announcement of results. The helpline would provide counselling for pre-examination stress, dos and don’ts for parents, stress-related health issues, post examination anxiety, career counselling and other issues. The helpline will be operational from 9 am. to 12 pm. and 4 pm. to 9 pm.

In another letter, Joshi has asked board-affiliated schools to reduce the weight of schoolbags, especially for primary students. The letter states that schoolbags of children up to class XII should be maintained in the school itself. It further states that schools must follow the number of textbooks prescribed by National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for that class.