UAE: How parents can react calmly to help students deal with exam pressure

UAE: How parents can react calmly to help students deal with exam pressure

Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: File

Published: Wed 20 Dec 2023, 6:00 AM

When 12-year-old girl A.K. was brought to clinical psychologist Dr. Arfa Bhanu Khan at Aster Clinic Bur Dubai, she had been missing school for over one month. She experienced palpitations at school; had crying spells and was anxious and restless every time.

“After detailed analysis, she revealed that she was scared to face her exams and felt pressured thinking about her marks,” said Dr. Arfa. “Her exams were approaching and her symptoms had increased to such an extent that she refused to go to school.”

Thankfully, a combination of techniques to help set goals, reduce anxiety and manage stress allowed A.K. to face her fears and attend her exams. She was, however, not the first student to face such situation and will certainly not be the last. In fact, experts say that teachers and educators are on high alert especially during the examination times.

Lisa Johnson, principal of American Academy for Girls, told Khaleej Times: “We try to be proactive in monitoring for warning signs of stress or mental health issues, especially during exam periods. Teachers and counsellors are trained to observe changes in behaviour, such as increased absenteeism, decline in