Students want quota for being part of cultural activities

This year Sujay Shah (16) participated in an international cultural festival in Turkey, but much to his chagrin, the certificate will not help his overall percentage. While students who play state, national or international level sports will get 25 extra marks, those with cultural achievements will get nothing.

This year Sujay Shah (16) participated in an international cultural festival in Turkey, but much to his chagrin, the certificate will not help his overall percentage. While students who play state, national or international level sports will get 25 extra marks, those with cultural achievements will get nothing.

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“Even other activities like participation at Model United Nations, dramatics and art should be recognised,” said Shah. “We also invest time and energy in these."

In 2007, the SSC board announced that students excelling in sport at the state level or above would get 25 extra marks. In July this year, the government extended the facility to students from other boards after some ICSE parents challenged it in court.

Sujay isn’t the only disgruntled student whose non-sporting achievements will not be translating into marks that could give his percentage a leg-up. Parents and principals point out that children achieving cultural landmarks should also benefit from the extra 25 marks policy.

“If students have taken part in cultural activities then why not give them also the same benefit,” said Sandhya Balakrishnan, principal of Avabai Petit School at Bandra. “After all they have also put in effort.”

Another parent pointed out that extra marks policy should be uniform. “They should either give marks for all extra-curricular activities or for none,” said Bhushana Samant, a parent.