From the time the revised scheme was announced in 2012, 4000 students have been benefitted through it which was introduced by the Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education
An average of 600 students have been directly benefitting from the sports marks in their academic carrier for the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination without which they would have been still stagnating. So far, around 4000 students have benefitted from the sports marks from 2012 to 2016 which are included in the mark sheet.
To earn the sports merit marks a student from Std V to XII has to participate at every level in a particular sport and figure in the first three winning slots if they are to be awarded the same.
In the year 2012-13, a total number of 1160 students benefitted from the sports marks out of which 752 passed out SSC while 408 were successful in HSSC. In 2013-14 around 742 benefitted (567 SSC and 175 HSSC) while in 2014-15 around 676 were successful (465 SSC and 211 HSSC).
Last year (2015-16) 562 students passed out with the sports marks out of which 372 were in the SSC while 190 from the HSSC.
“Because of sport marks a student failing in two or three subjects has been pulled out. It has become a very big help for the students and their family. We have saved many families from going into frustration, turmoil and depression”, SAG executive director V M Prabhudesai said.
It may be recalled Sports Merit Marks Scheme approved by the government and its sports ministry was revised in December 2013.
The new sports merit marks were allotted for participation at each and every level ranging from taluka to district, State and thereafter national and international level.
Participation marks are allotted ranging from 2 to 15 depending on the level of participation.
The allotment was as follows, Taluka (2), District - Inter Zone (3), State (5), Inter State - Zonal (7), Inter State - National (10), and International (15). (See Box Right)
In addition to participation, marks have been categorised for winners bagging the first three places in any tournament.
Those bagging the first place will be awarded 7 marks, second place 5 marks and third place 3 marks.
At the international level, 30 marks will be awarded to those securing the first place, 25 for the second place and 20 for the third place.
The final marks allotted to a student will be the sum total they have been awarded at every level. If a student wins at Taluka level, wins at District level and wins at State level he/she shall be awarded 7+10+15 = 32 marks.
In case a student does participate in any tournament directly at the State level and wins without participating at the lower levels they would get only 10 marks.
While a student cannot claim multiple benefits at any given level, they can claim benefits for participation in multi discipline sports.
The Goa Board has been implementing the scheme for award of sports merit marks since 2010 under the sports policy of 2009 for Class IX to XII. However, the board received a volley of complaints that the same was being misused in respect to award of participation marks at the State level without participation at the lower levels.
The Board thus sought for a review in 2011 but was unable to affect a revised scheme suggested then due to administrative reasons. A status quo was maintained and a fresh revision was sought.
After all the good efforts put in by the students throughout the year, one hopes though that their hard work and sweat on the track and sports field will not go in vain and will assist them in fetching marks which they deserve in passing the hurdles, if any, in their academic career.
