As the body needs food, so does the mind need motivation

    As the body needs food, so does the mind need motivation

The period of high-stress examinations is upon us, and children across the country are experiencing stress and anxiety during this time. The stress felt by students also affects their teachers and parents. Despite the pleasant weather in February and March, these months are often identified as the most stressful time of the year due to our examination system. Sadly, we frequently hear of students committing suicide as a result of the overwhelming stress they experience.

It is important to recognize that stress is not a natural phenomenon but rather an artificial one that we have created through our education system. Our policymakers are also aware of this, as evidenced by the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which acknowledges the need to reduce stress and anxiety among students. The NEP states...

The current nature of secondary school exams, including Board exams and entrance exams - and the resulting coaching culture of today - are doing much harm, especially at the secondary school level, replacing valuable time for true learning with excessive exam coaching and preparation. These exams also force students to learn a very narrow band of material in a single stream, rather than allowing the flexibility and choice that will be so important in the education system of the future.

Stating the approach to deal with this situation it further states 

While the Board exams for Grades 10 and 12 will be continued, the existing system of Board and entrance examinations shall be reformed to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes. To reverse these harmful effects of the current assessment system, Board exams will be redesigned to encourage holistic development; students will be able to choose many of the subjects in which they take Board exams, depending on their individualized interests. Board exams will also be made ‘easier’, in the sense that they will test primarily core capacities/competencies rather than months of coaching and memorization; any student who has been going to and making a basic effort in a school class will be able to pass and do well in the corresponding subject Board Exam without much additional effort. To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board Exams, all students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.

The NEP recommends several crucial steps to deescalate the stress of examinations at the national level, and governments are making decisions in this context to reform the process. However, implementing these changes will take time. In the meantime, we can each do our part to demystify the stress related to exams within our areas of influence. As teachers, we have the opportunity to help our students deal with stress and anxiety.

How to deal with it? 

Dealing with stress is not rocket science. Most of us know that regular exercise, sufficient sleep, exposure to sunlight, nutritious food, and feeling connected with loved ones can all help our students manage their stress levels. There is a common misconception that a certain amount of stress is necessary to increase productivity, but this belief is false. It is often promoted by corporate and market forces to justify exploitation. In reality, people tend to perform better when they feel motivated rather than stressed.

How to stay motivated? 

There is a branch of psychology dedicated to the question of motivation, and it has developed many theories. However, I believe that motivation is very context-specific, particularly in the short-term. What motivates one student may not motivate another. For example, some students may feel motivated by listening to music, while others may seek motivation from their parents, teachers, or other people they admire. For some students, their goal itself is what motivates them. As teachers, it is important to discuss the various ways that students can find motivation, so they can choose what works best for them based on their interests. I often share with my students the phrase, "As the body needs food, so does the mind need motivation." Motivation is the energy the mind needs to function.