According to Kelkar, students and parents do not seem to have enough information on the process as most of their queries range from which website to access the results from and the implications of the Best Five system.
Another unusual trend, say counsellors, is that students from rural areas are also calling in this year. "Of the 70 calls that I have received, a large number was from the rural areas. The main concern is the admission process. They also asked whether they could get their marks from us," said Yashashri Huddar, a boardappointed counsellor. Many students have also started planning ahead. Natasha Shah (16), a student of Fatima High School at Vidya Vihar met her counsellor to get a better idea about her career choices. "I met my counsellor, and after discussing my interests, she suggested I opt for commerce," said Shah, admitting that she is a "little worried" about her performance.
The board's decision to distribute the marksheets at a later date has not gone down well with parents as well as students. "Most students feel a little helpless as they cannot plan their next step without their marksheets. This is just adding to their anxiety," said psychiatrist Dr Nirmala Rao.
