Kerala’s resolution to eliminate grace marks set to finish disparity amongst college students
Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The normal schooling division’s resolution to eliminate grace marks for the lately concluded public examinations on the faculty stage would finish the disparity between state board college students and college students type CBSE and ICSE streams throughout admission to the state increased secondary course and undergraduate programs in universities this 12 months, lecturers have identified.
The common follow of awarding grace marks was finished away with in view of suspension of additional curricular actions in the course of the earlier educational 12 months owing to the pandemic. Marks starting from 3% to as excessive as 20% of the combination rating are awarded as grace marks within the Higher Secondary part for college students who take part in further curricular actions or excel in state, nationwide or worldwide stage competitions. For SSLC, the grace marks thus obtained might be within the vary of 12 to greater than 120.
“There have been instances where a student who failed in three subjects has got pass marks thanks to the lavish award of grace marks,” admitted a senior official of the final schooling division. Meanwhile, even probably the most meritorious college students finding out in CBSE and ICSE/ ISC streams lose out to the scholars passing out from the state syllabus faculties whereas looking for admission to increased programs as no grace marks are offered to college students of nationwide boards.
The Union HRD Ministry (now Union Education Ministry) had referred to as for the abolition of grace marks for Classes 10 and 12 besides in instances of ambiguity in query papers. A number of CBSE college students had approached the High Court in 2019 looking for implementation of the Centre’s directive. They contended that grace marks needs to be proven individually within the mark listing and never added to the combination marks. However, the state authorities took an ambivalent stance on the matter and maintained that extra discussions had been wanted earlier than making any amendments to the decades-old follow of awarding grace marks.
Meanwhile, Class 12 college students of CBSE and ICSE / ISC streams who’re involved about their ultimate examination marks within the wake of the cancellation of Board exams have heaved a sigh of reduction. The new improvement would place them on a par with state syllabus college students for admission to undergraduate programs. Besides, Board examination marks won’t be thought-about whereas making ready the ranklist for skilled programs akin to engineering this 12 months.
“We welcome the government’s decision to do away with grace marks for public exams as it would create a level playing field for students from all streams. However, it should not be a one-time affair on account of the pandemic,” mentioned Indira Rajan, secretary normal, National Council of CBSE Schools.
The resolution has additionally come as a reduction to round 35,000 CBSE college students who cross over to state Higher Secondary stream yearly after Class X. Due to a standardisation course of that places SSLC college students with grace marks better off, CBSE college students have typically complained of being handed out a uncooked deal within the state Higher Secondary admissions.
