THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The general education department has amended its earlier order on the award of grace marks to students in the SSLC and higher secondary examination for participation in various co-curricular activities.
The amendments in the sports category were made in the wake of widespread complaints from student-athletes that the grace marks in the category have been drastically cut down. According to the new order, participation in national-level sports competitions will fetch a student 22 marks. In the earlier order, marks were awarded only for medal winners in national competitions and not for participation.
As per the new order, students who won medals in international competitions will be awarded 30 marks. Participants in international sports events will be awarded 28 marks. The state child rights commission had taken note of the complaints of student-athletes and had asked the secretary and director of general education to appear before it in person on May 11 to explain the reason for reducing the grace marks.
The order has also amended the grace marks for participants of the Children’s Science Congress both at the national and state level. While students who earn A B and C grades at the State Children’s Science Congress will be provided 20, 15 and 10 marks respectively, participants at the national level will be given 25 marks.
Grace marks will also be given to winners of the talent search in Science and Mathematics and Bhaskaracharya Seminar. In these three events, the A, B and C grade winners will get 20, 15 and 10 marks respectively. The winners of the first three prizes in these three events will be given 20, 17 and 14 marks respectively.