Thiruvananthapuram: The liberal granting of grace marks was found marring the admission prospects of meritorious students in Kerala. The State Government has decided to rectify this anomaly by revising the norms for awarding grace marks.

The Principal Secretary has issued the new order in this regard after the Public Education Director recommend the Government sweeping changes in existing provisions.

Hereafter, grace marks being awarded to the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and higher-secondary Plus-Two students in Kerala who excel in extracurricular activities will be limited to a single event in which they scored the maximum marks, and it doesn’t matter whether they participated and became eligible in multiple co-curricular items.

The latest order of the Kerala Government also makes it clear that a student who has been awarded grace mark won’t be entitled to bonus mark, on account of it, during the next level of admission.

Earlier, it was possible for a student to score 100% with the help of grace marks. However, there were several complaints that the same resulted in merit students getting upstaged by students who received grace marks during admission, including that at Plus-One and Degree levels.

It was only a few months ago the Kerala Government restored the grace marks awarded to school students for their excellence in extracurricular activities. According to the General Education Department, students sitting for the Class 10 and Plus Two (Class 12) examinations can apply for grace marks from the 2022-23 academic year.

Grace marks were not given during the last two years as the normal academic schedule was impacted by the lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with full-fledged extracurricular activities taking place during the current academic year, the government decided to restore them.

Events and marks

The grace marks to be awarded in each event are as follows:-

• EVENT: The winners of state-level competitions in art festivals; Science, Mathematical Science, Social Science, Experience, IT events; Science seminar, C V Raman essay competition, Science project, Srinivasa Ramanujan Memorial Mathematics Award lecture, Newspaper reading competition, Social Science talent search examination, and Special school art festival

• MARK: A Grade: 20 marks; B Grade: 15; C Grade:10; First Prize: 20; Second Prize: 17, Third Prize 14 marks.

Event and marks

• Sports competitions: participation in international meets 30 marks; national medal 25; State-level first prize 20; second prize 17; third prize 14; Up to fourth prize in athletics, Games & Swimming events organized by the General Education department, and the associations recognized by the State Sports Council, and the Sports department 7 marks.

• Junior Red Cross: 10 marks.

• Scouts & Guides: 80% attendance: 18 marks; Rajyapuraskar, Chief Minister’s Shield: 20; President’s Award: 25.

• Student Police Cadet: 20 marks.

• National Cadet Corps: 75% attendance: 20 marks; those who obtained ranks from Corporal onwards, those having A, B, C certificates, and those who participated in various camps: 25 marks.

• State Children’s Science Congress (winners of first three places): 15 marks.

• South Indian Science Fest (first three places): 22 marks.

• National Children’s Science Congress (first three places): 25 marks.

• Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Fest: 25 marks.

• Little KIITES: 15 marks.

• Sargotsavam: A Grade: 13; B Grade: 10 marks.

• Quiz competition held by Kerala State Legal Services Authority: First prize: 5 marks; Second prize: 3 marks.

• Bal Shree Honour: 15 marks

Class 8 and 9 achievements to be considered

As per the latest order the achievements of state-level winners in school fests while studying in Class 8 or 9 will be considered for awarding grace marks. But the condition is that the student during his Class 10 study should obtain an A grade in the same event at the Revenue district level. The achievements in sports events during Class 8 or 9 too can be considered for grace marks similarly, but the students should participate at least in the district-level competitions during their study in Class 10.