This week marked the beginning of second term examinations for primary, secondary and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) students countrywide, not even a month after schools in Kigali reopened.

Due to the new coronavirus, schools were closed on January 18, as the City of Kigali was placed under lockdown to contain the spread and were only reopened on February 23, after the cabinet meeting reviewed the existing measures. Schools will close on April 2, after the exams.

This means that students in the City of Kigali lost a lot of time, while those studying in other provinces continued with the syllabus. With little time to study face-to-face in classrooms, exam time came around before they could cover enough ground or catch up with others countrywide.

A research done in countries such as the United Kingdom, which was adversely affected by Covid-19, showed that the pandemic disrupted learning and as a result, children face a lot of pressure when the examinations come around early, before they could settle in well.

Throughout 2020 and the beginning 2021, physical classes have been disrupted by not only Covid-19 preventive guidelines but also the festive season, meaning that children did not have enough time in school.

A study done by the University of Warwick in the UK shows that ‘exam stress’ increased among students due to Covid-19, mainly because it disrupted learning. When exams come around, most children, especially teens, will start worrying about their performance.

As students, especially in Kigali, go on about their exams, there are few things parents or guardians can do to help their children beat exam stress.

First, you need to observe your school-going children to see if they are worried or tense before you take action. It’s important to be attentive if they complain of headaches or stomach-aches during the exam weeks, lose sleep, appetite or are irritable because these can be signs of exam stress.

You also need to check if they have become reclusive or exhibit a negative or low mood during exam days. They could be struggling with exam stress but they don’t want to say.

Below are some tips recommended by experts to help children overcome exam stress especially at this time of the pandemic.

Talk to them 

Exam time is an important period for parents or guardians to talk to their children. Ask them how the exam went, if they are ready or if they are struggling with something. You will be amazed how they will open up. Give them the support they need.

Encourage them to talk to teachers or a member of school staff who they feel is supportive, especially when they don’t understand something.

Ensure they eat well 

During exams, it is common for school going children to cut out meals, especially teenagers who are conscious about their performance. Make sure they eat. A balanced diet is vital for your child’s health, and can help them feel well during exam periods.

Make sure that they also eat organic food and avoid high caffeine or high sugar foods and drinks. Those in fact can affect their performance. Make sure the meals are eaten on time.

Enough sleep

Like food, sleep is very important for your child to perform well. Marie Anne Umugwaneza, a teacher and counsellor, says that during exam time, some children, especially those in upper grades, don’t seem to sleep well at home, during exams.

"Due to exam pressure, some don’t sleep at all because of anxiety, others think reading all night makes you pass,” Umugwaneza says.

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) findings, cramming all night before an exam is usually a bad idea.

"Sleep will benefit your child far more than a few hours of panicky last-minute study,” the study says, adding that good sleep improves thinking and concentration.

Teenagers, especially need 8 to 10 hours’ sleep a night. It is advised that after school, allow half an hour or so for your child to wind down between studying, watching TV or using a computer and going to bed, to help them get a good night’s sleep.

Be easy on them

Parents or guardians are advised to be flexible during exam time by letting kids not do certain household chores they were normally doing after school. They will realise that you value the fact that they are doing exams and they will strive not to disappoint.

Besides, this is just a short period, two weeks at maximum. Do the chores yourself or ask a sibling who is not doing exams.

Create an atmosphere to study 

When children realise that they have been given priority to study, they tend to put in an effort. Get them what they want, support them where they are stranded and create room for their revision.

If they are doing practicals, help them, provide what they need to do experiments, motivate them and try to understand them. Discuss about the future, goals and ambitions, this will spur them.

Help them ease up

Every morning when they step out, make sure you tell them words of encouragement. This will help ease their exam nerves and release anxiety. Naturally, exams are intimidating. You can help them have an approach that is less tense by simply encouraging them. Some parents or guardians tend to approach exams for their children with tension too, which worsens the situation. Help them lose the fear of certain subjects.

Don’t press them

Often parents or guardians tend to forget and inadvertently add pressure on their kids by insisting to know if they understand a certain subject. While driving to school, don’t push the limits if they don’t understand the definition of something.

It is also common for parents or guardians to demand for excellence. "You must pass this subject. You must get promoted”. All these put the school going kids under pressure which is counterproductive.

Health and exercise

Exam time is not time to eat junk or drink lots of coffee or coke to stay awake. In fact, experts say exercising and maintaining a healthy diet and practices can improve performance. Help your children exercise by taking a simple walk, a bicycle ride, football or a dance session. It helps them to ease up.

Rewards or treats

Reward you children for performing well in the first exams, it will boost their performance in the pending exams. Over the weekend, if you have the means, take them out for a few treats and while at it, discuss the pending exams. It will spur their performance.

Don’t act angrily

Remember these are second term exams. Don’t panic if they say they goofed on a certain question. Remind them that there is 3rd term to come and they can do better. Don’t react angrily under any circumstance.