50% hike in sports quota seekers

Almost double the number of Class 10 students got 25 extra marks for sports this year compared to last year, even as the government is working on a revised sports marks scheme aimed at excluding undeserving beneficiaries.

Almost double the number of Class 10 students got 25 extra marks for sports this year compared to last year, even as the government is working on a revised sports marks scheme aimed at excluding undeserving beneficiaries.

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In 2010, 1,296 students in Class 10 benefited from the scheme – that grants 25 extra marks to those who played sport at the state level and above. This year, 2,484 students benefited from it. Compared to 2009, when 854 students got the extra marks, it’s an almost three-fold increase this year. The Directorate of Sports and Youth Services compiled the final report for 2011, this week.

“Awareness of the scheme has improved, which is why the figures have increased,” said Narendra Sopal, director of sports and youth services, state.

Though the sports and youth welfare department has not received official complaints, parents and teachers say malpractices are rife. “People are ready to pay anything to get marks for their wards,” said one coach.

“Several so-called associations have sprung up with teams composed entirely of students from Class 10 and 12,” said one official.

To curb these malpractices the education department and the sports and youth welfare department will sit together to thresh out a new scheme in the coming months. There is likely to be a new scheme in place for the next academic year.