CHENNAI: A photograph published in The Times of India’s Chennai edition on January 21 has gone viral on social media, showing parents scaling the compound wall of a school where CBSE Class 10 exams were being held.
See pics here
The image, captured on January 20 outside Kendriya Vidyalaya Meenambakkam in Chennai, has sparked widespread debate, with some netizens calling it an example of “helicopter parenting,” while others sympathized with the parents’ anxiety and concern.

According to eyewitnesses, after dropping their children at the exam centre, several parents lingered outside, waiting for them to enter their respective exam halls.

However, some particularly anxious parents resorted to climbing the school’s boundary wall to check if their children were revising. Others were seen offering words of encouragement from across the wall, hoping to boost their children’s confidence before the exam.

For those unable to scale the wall, small holes and crevices in the structure served as makeshift windows, allowing them to peek inside. Through these openings, they observed their children, attempting to assess their preparedness.

The viral image has reignited discussions on parental pressure during board exams, with many questioning whether such extreme measures stem from genuine concern or contribute to undue stress on students.
“Nothing can deter the parents’ anxiety about their child’s well-being during stressful public exam time—neither high walls, barbed wire, nor even a tiny hole to peep into.” user wrote on viral photo.
One user wrote, “Not sure how they are going to help even if something did go wrong.”
CBSE Class 10 board exams 2025 start on Feb 15 (Saturday)
As per the CBSE date sheet, the Class 10 Board Exams for 2025 began on Saturday, February 15, with English (Communicative) and English (Language and Literature) as the first papers. The exams will continue until Tuesday, March 18, 2025, covering subjects like languages, science, mathematics, social science, and vocational courses.
The exams will continue until Tuesday, March 18, 2025, covering a wide range of subjects, including languages, science, mathematics, social science, and vocational courses. The duration of each exam will vary between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the subject.