No takers for HSC board's counselling centre

The counselling centre set up by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) did not receive a single distress call from students on the second consecutive day. The board had declared the results online on Friday afternoon.

One of the two counsellors appointed by the board, Revati Pandhare said, "There were no phone calls on day one of the results on Friday and there were no phone calls on Saturday. We are a bit surprised about this.''

In fact, the two-person counselling team who was supposed to work till 4 pm on Saturday, left early due to the zero response from the students. Divisional secretary of the Pune board, MV Gosavi told DNA that the two member team had left early due to lack of response from the students. "We were expecting a few calls at least but nobody called which is surprising. We look at this positively."

Even a few private counselling centres in the city when contacted denied having received any phone calls from HSC students in distress. Director of personality development centre, Maharashtra Education Society, Bharat Desai told DNA, "No student has approached us for counselling. During examinations and after declaration of results, students usually contact us, but nobody has done so."

Director counselling centre, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) Ashwini Latkar said normally parents and students come together. "However, we have not had any cases this year so far."

Analysing the lack of response from class XII students, Desai said "Probably, the teenagers are becoming more confident and independent about their careers. They must be seeing their seniors as a source of inspiration, due to which they must have avoided counselling centres. Also, some of them after collecting their mark sheets on June 6 from their colleges, could approach counselling centres."