Narvekar flays Education Dept on faulty Sports Policy.
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 27
The Education Department has failed to implement the Sports Policy in its true spirit, observed the Ad-Hoc Committee on Education, Sports and Information Technology.
Dayanand Narvekar, MLA and president of Goa Cricket Association (GCA), who is the chairman of the committee, disclosed that at its meeting held on Wednesday it was observed that the Education Department in an earlier sitting had agreed to provide sports marks in addition to the condonation marks and the same would be added to the aggregate of a sportsperson.
“From the marks certificates of sportsmen it is observed that sports marks are shown with an asteric and not added in the aggregate. As such, sports marks obtained by students have become ornamental, having no value for the career like admissions to professional colleges and schools,” Narvekar pointed out.
“The SAG and DSYA have been flooded with complaints that the Sports Policy has not been applied correctly. In case of a footballer who plays for the State, sports marks were not given appropriately,” pointed out Narvekar.
Narvekar has directed the Education Department to take up the matter immediately and implement the Sports Policy in real earnest so that students can avail of marks to increase their percentage for further studies.
Narvekar demanded that the Department should issue a circular to the concerned authorities or professional colleges to consider sports marks for admission purposes having equal value like normal marks.
Some parents of students who appeared for CET exam, felt that the sports marks had no relevance at all for them.
Dr Jorson Fernandes from Cuncolim disclosed that several parents who had approached him in Margao had pointed out that their children were not assigned any sports marks at the entrance examination for professional colleges. “It is immaterial whether you are a sportsperson or not as there are no marks allotted for excellence in sports when children opt for professional courses. It is unsporting, to say the least,” Dr Fernandes opined.
