A photograph published in The Times of India’s Chennai edition on January 21 has sparked a wave of reactions across social media. The image, taken outside Kendriya Vidyalaya Meenambakkam in Chennai on January 20, shows anxious parents attempting to scale the school’s compound wall while their children were inside taking the CBSE Class 10 exams.
Eyewitnesses reported that after dropping their children off at the exam center, several parents waited outside, some of whom, driven by concern and anxiety, resorted to climbing the school boundary wall to see if their children were revising. Others took to peeking through small holes and crevices in the wall, hoping to observe their children’s preparedness. Some parents also offered words of encouragement to their children across the wall in an attempt to boost their confidence before the exam.
The image has since gone viral, prompting discussions about the high pressure that both parents and students face during board exams. Some netizens have labeled it an example of “helicopter parenting,” while others expressed sympathy for the parents’ anxiety. One user humorously pointed out, “Nothing can deter the parents’ anxiety during stressful public exam time—neither high walls, barbed wire, nor even a tiny hole to peep into.”
However, others questioned whether such extreme measures were helpful in any way. A comment read, “Not sure how they are going to help even if something did go wrong.”
The photo highlights the intense parental pressure and concern that often accompanies major exams, raising questions about the balance between care and overbearing behavior.
Meanwhile, the CBSE Class 10 exams for 2025 began on February 15, 2025, with English papers. The exams will run until March 18, 2025, covering a wide range of subjects, and the duration of each exam will vary between 2 to 3 hours.
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