Sports gets attention, CBSE cuts attendance

Students who represent their Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools in sports competitions will now need to attend 15% fewer classes than all other students in order to appear for class XII Board examinations.

Students who represent their Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools in sports competitions will now need to attend 15% fewer classes than all other students in order to appear for class XII Board examinations.

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The CBSE has amended its examination bylaws, inserting a new clause that relaxes attendance requirements for budding sportspersons, in a bid to promote sports in Indian schools, top board sources have confirmed to HT.

Under the old bylaws, all students needed 75% attendance in class XII to be eligible to appear for the class XII Board examination. The CBSE Chairman had discretionary powers to relax attendance norms in special cases — but these were used for students suffering from serious medical ailments.

The new rule — section 13(1)(b) in the amended bylaws — lowers the attendance requirements for girls and boys participating in recognised national sports events to 60% in class XII. The move comes at a time when India is celebrating its unprecedented success in Commonwealth Games.

"The government and the CBSE are keen on encouraging sports in schools. One of the biggest criticisms of our education policy has been our failure to recognise sports on a par with academics. We want to do that," a senior official said. Sports minister MS Gill has repeatedly sought greater intervention from education authorities to encourage sports in schools. Human resource development minister Kapil Sibal has on more than one occasion asked the CBSE to stress on sports.

Only students who participate in national level events organised by recognised federations, the CBSE or state government-funded institutions will be eligible for the relaxation.

Sports enthusiasts have often complained of parents barring them from participating in sports events because of fears that failure to meet the attendance rule could deny them a chance to appear for the class XII Board examination.

The discretionary powers with the chairman remain intact, so students can now appear for board exams with even less than 60% attendance if they participated in sports events and earn the discretionary nod.

Sporting spirit

The CBSE has amended its Class XII Board examination bylaws, inserting a new clause that relaxes attendance requirements for budding sportspersons.

Under the old bylaws, all students needed 75% attendance in class XII to be eligible to appear for the class XII Board examination.

The new lause will only be applicable on students participating in national level events organised by recognised federations, the CBSE or state government-funded institutions.