PANAJI: As a step towards implementing the provisions of the State Sports Policy 2009 related to the sports merit marks, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHS) has issued a circular to all recognised secondary and higher secondary schools,

within its jurisdiction, stating that the certificates for sports participation/ achievement of those students who have appeared for the SSC as well as the HSSC examination held in March/ April 2010, have to be authenticated either by the directorate of sports and youth affairs or Sports Authority of Goa, and submitted to the Board office by April 30, 2010.
The circular further states that for SSC and HSSC examinations, the allotment of sports merit marks would be as per the table in the State Sports Policy.
“Highest level of participation and performance in any one event is to be considered for award of sports merit marks, if the students are performing in more than one level/ event,” it says, adding that in the case of those students who are passing, sports merit marks will be shown separately in the mark-sheet.
“In the case of those students who are failing, sports merit marks will be added to those subject/s in which they have failed, either theory or practical or both, which will be indicated by asterisk mark, after which condonation marks will be added, and this will be indicated by a plus sign,” the circular maintains, pointing out that the balance of sports merit marks, if any, will be shown separately in the mark-sheet.
“If some students despite adding the sports merit marks as well as the condonation marks, are not able to pass, then in this case the sports merit marks will be shown separately in the mark-sheet,” the circular indicates, noting that in case a student has failed in the SSC/ HSSC examinations and appears again, sports merit marks due to him/ her as a sports student shall be carried forward in subsequent examinations.
“For classes VIII, IX and XI, the allotment of sports merit marks would be as per table in the State Sports Policy, with highest level of participation and performance in any one event is to be considered for award of sports merit marks, if the students are performing in more than one level/ event. In the case of those who are passing on their own merit, sports merit marks shall be shown separately in the report card,” the circular observes, further mentioning that in the case of those students who are failing, sports merit marks will have to be added in those subjects in which they are failing and then the grades will have to be determined.
“This will be indicated by an asterisk mark against the grade in the subject/ s where the sports merit marks have been added,” it says, noting that the balance of sports merit marks, if any, are to be shown separately in the report card.
“In case of students failing even after adding sports merit marks and determining the grades, the sports merit marks shall be shown separately in the report card, and in case a sports student has acquired an aggregate of more than 100 per cent, it shall be treated as 100 per cent,” the circular states, adding  “If a student has participated in sports in the summer vacation preceding the academic year this should be counted/ considered for the award of sports merit marks for the ensuing academic year.”
“Finally, for classes VIII and IX, in case a student is failing, the sports merit marks have to be added to the average of either theory or practical or both and the grades have to be determined,” it indicates, pointing out that the certificates for sports participation/ achievement have to be endorsed either by the deputy director of sports and youth affairs or the executive director of the Sports Authority of Goa.
“The heads of the schools - for classes from V to IX and class XI - should do the needful and prepare the results of the sports children accordingly,” the circular signed by the Board secretary, Mr D R Bhagat says, “for this year- 2009 – 2010 - they should first declare the results of those students not covered under State Sports Policy 2009 as scheduled and then declare the results of those benefiting from the State Sports Policy, after obtaining the requisite authenticated certificates.”