ByAjikobi Kanyinsola Mercy, Lagos
Schooling is fun until the examination season approaches, then the pressure to perform well leads to increasing stress levels, anxiety and even depression among students.
A growing number of secondary school students are struggling with exam stress, sparking concerns about the impact on their mental, physical and even emotional health.
According to a recent survey, 75 per cent of secondary school students are being said to be feeling stressed or overwhelmed during exams, this survey also shows that 60 per cent of these students spend over four hours daily studying for the exam, 50 per cent are reported to having loss of sleep due to exam-related anxiety, while 40 per cent feeling pressured by parents or teachers to perform well.
While this is inevitable for parents or teachers to pressure the students to do well during these seasons, it is also important to note that over-pressuring of these students can also lead to negative effects such as inferiority complex, depression, lack of sleep, fear, and social isolation (etc).
Sometimes I just feel like splitting my head open and putting the book inside, but other times I just cry out of frustration that I’m just not doing enough, even at times where I’d lose sleep’ says Majolagbe
Blessing, a 14 year old student at Vindidi Model college located in Ogun state.
Students often face different challenges while struggling with examination stress, this can include, emotional effect, fear of failure, impaired memory and recall, decreased participation in extracurricular activities, headaches, sleep disturbances, weight loss this can also lead to chronic stress and anxiety disorder over the long term.
Experts in psychology, educating to always get enough sleep, eat brain-boosting foods, stay hydrated, exercise regularly and also take breaks to relax and recharge at intervals during the study process.
Also they are admonished to prioritise self-care, reframe negative thoughts and since these pressures are inevitable, students are advised to start examination preparations since the beginning of the
term and not till examination is fast approaching.
