Help our students help themselves

A policeman monitors the arrival of Form Five students at a school in Puchong to ensure they abide by the Covid-19 SOPs on the first day of school. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

THIS week higher secondary students returned to school with growing anxiety over their upcoming public examinations amidst the pandemic. It has been a difficult period for students dealing with online classes, isolation and uncertainty since last year, even more so for those facing postponed examinations. Studying for crucial SPM/STPM examinations that may impact on future goals may be stressful even in normal times, which is worse this year due to academic and social disruptions during the pandemic.

Many students are anxious whether the short time span between returning to schools and sitting for these examinations will affect their results. They are also often facing pressure from parents who are concerned about their academic performance. Such concerns may cause deterioration in the mental health of students, which in turn will hinder their preparation and concentration for the examinations. In this situation, what can students do to protect their mental health and well-being?

Self-help strategies

Sitting for SPM/STM examinations after a prolonged period of online classes in the middle of a pandemic is far from an ideal situation. Some degree of anxiety may be inevitable but the question is, how can students cope with their emotions, maintain calm and achieve more within such constraints? These self-help strategies can help students manage their stress better even if it is not possible to eliminate it altogether.