Laughter is CBSE’s medicine before exams

New Delhi: The last-minute tips they got from the Central Board of Secondary Education defused some of the tension that Class X and Class XII exams candidates were under. There was amusement as the edgy students read the ever-welcome tips they received from their board. “Pimples? Zero. Blackheads? Zero. Entry allowed after 10 am … ZERO”, said one of them, cautioning the students in an affectionate manner that they wouldn’t be permitted to enter the exams halls after the stipulated time.
Instead of what students described as the customary “boring” and “sermonising” instructions and guidelines, CBSE has been communicating since February 15 in their own language of memes and rap, sharing one creative every day.These cool advisories are the brainchild of Anita Karwal, the board chairperson, who herself attributed the inspiration to the schoolchildren. She explained that communication becomes effective and fun when done in the language the students have embraced.
There was a poetic meme on Wednesday. The ditty concerned an important aspect of the exams and read, “In exams it is compulsory to write in pens blue/ Ballpoints of any kind or gel pens will do/ Now don’t say later ‘I didn’t have a clue’”. While amused, the students were actually grateful for clarity on the point. Karwal disclosed that in a day or so, a rap song on the exams composed by a student would be released.
The memes, with hashtags such as #YouCanDoIt, #beontime, #theunstoppableyou and many others, are trending on social media. Students too have been reciprocating and engaging with the memes. From expressing their “shock” at seeing the board resorting to pop expression to humorous responses along similar lines, students have taken to the ploy. Many, of course, are also getting their queries answered directly by CBSE officials.
The meme saga started with one that showed a fist-pumping infant with the text reading, “Completed syllabus before everyone else”. This was followed by others, among them subject-related ones. For the legal studies, the meme showed a tot in lawyer’s robes saying, “Hard work pays Mee Lord — there is evidence to support this statement”. For physics, a kindly looking Albert Einstein (should have been Isaac Newton perhaps) warns, “Gravitation cannot be held responsible for you not getting up on time for study and exams”.
Buoyed by the reaction of the students, Karwal said, “We think we will continue this practice of modern communication even during non-exam days, though the frequency will be need based.”
It all started with a brainstorming session in which the youthful mode was identified and confirmed. CBSE sources said that an ad agency was approached, though the in-house effort was guided by Karwal herself creating some memes. The CBSE chairperson said, “The credit goes to the students for making us learn their language and style of communication. The students are also creating the memes for us.”