New Delhi: In order to help students of Classes 10 and 12 in Gulf countries overcome exam stress, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday started three helplines in Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar.

The first phase of CBSE counselling has begun and will continue till April 8, 2010. The counselling will help students and parents to overcome anxiety and examination-related stress during examinations, a CBSE spokesperson told sources here.

The CBSE Class 10 and 12 board examinations are starting March 3 and thousands of students in scores of Gulf schools will sit for the exams.

Students wishing to get exam-related guidance may call David Ipe (Counsellor) at the Indian School, Dubai at 0097143377475 between 12 noon and 4 p.m. In Kuwait, CBSE has assigned Asha Sharma of the Indian Educational School to advise students at helpline number 0096524340882 between 8 a.m. and 12 noon.

Mohammed Aejaz, principal of the Ideal Indian School at Doha, Qatar, has been selected by the board to help students. Here the helpline numbers are 00974-3020735 and 00974-4684849. Students wishing to talk to him need to call between 7.00 a.m and 1.30 p.m.

In India, where lakhs of students sit for the exam every year, 52 principals, trained counsellors from CBSE-affiliated government and private schools, psychologists and social scientists are operating helplines from 8 a.m. up to midnight. IANS