KOZHIKODE: The state youth festival is a craze among the students and parents due to the grace marks given to the participants. This is also the reason why there is a flood of appeals at the Kalolsavams with allegations of bribing leading to even Vigilance probes. DC looks at the impact of the grace marks on the academic standards at a time when students are seriously preparing for the annual board examinations.
According to a few educational experts, internal marks or the grace marks are an easy way to score better marks or get into the next level of examination at the cost of academic standards. "Even the difference of one mark can affect a student's admission to the higher secondary classes in the state due to the tight competition. Therefore, all will try to win grace marks of 30, 5 or even 2, by joining co-curricular activities," said N.G. Nisar, a student counsellor here.
The standard of education at the higher secondary level has come down as students manage to get into prominent government schools in the city with the help of grace marks rather than marks scored in the subjects, he added. Nearly 15,000 students participate in the school Kalolsavam in various events and among them 75 per cent secure A grade. Thirty marks are awarded to those who get A grade, 24 for B grade and 18 for C grade. Hence, students sacrifice their studies and give more stress on the extra-curricular activities.
During admission to graduation courses, even one mark can make a difference. "While calculating the index score, the grace marks are considered which can vary from the marks scored in the academics," said Prof Vinayak Nair, faculty member of SN College, Cheruvanur. It is based on the index score-- the total marks scored in Plus-Two examinations, grace marks and internal marks-that the priority for admission is charted. Hence, students and parents will do all they can to get some additional marks through extra-curricular activities.
"If no grace marks are granted, none will care for the festivals," said Dr P.N. Suresh Kumar, former director, Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (IMHANS). Even the parents will not encourage their wards to participate in them. He felt that it was an unhealthy practice to associate grace marks with the Kalolsavam or any other extracurricular activities.
