PANAJI
Nearly a decade after it was first proposed, the plan to introduce Cultural Merit Marks for students continues to remain on paper, leaving those excelling in art and culture without formal recognition in the board examination system. Envisioned in 2017 on the lines of sports merit marks -- now regularly awarded to acknowledge athletic achievements, the initiative has seen no progress over the years.
The scheme was initially slated for rollout in the 2017-18 academic year, during the tenure of then Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude. However, the timeline has repeatedly been pushed forward, with no clear indication of implementation even today.
Goa Board Chairman Bhagirath Shetye confirmed that the Board has yet to receive any formal proposal from the Directorate of Art and Culture. “We cannot proceed unless there is a policy or proposal in place,” he said, underlining the administrative bottleneck.
Sources revealed that in 2018, the Directorate of Art and Culture had drafted a Cultural Policy identifying around 30 art forms for consideration under the merit marks scheme. However, the policy failed to secure government approval. At present, the State continues to rely on an outdated cultural policy drafted in 2007.
The proposed Cultural Merit Marks are intended for students from Classes IX to XII and are aimed at encouraging participation in cultural activities by awarding additional marks to be reflected in their final scores. However, officials maintain that the implementation of such a scheme must be anchored in a formally approved cultural policy.
Even after policy approval, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE), which will serve as the implementing authority, will need to complete procedural formalities. This includes approvals from key bodies such as the academic council and finalisation of guidelines for awarding marks.
In its early stages, the government had proposed that participation in events organised by institutions such as Kala Academy, Ravindra Bhavan, Goa Konkani Akademi, Goa Marathi Akademi and Rajiv Kala Mandir would qualify students for merit marks.
For now, the absence of a comprehensive and updated cultural policy continues to stall the initiative, leaving generations of artistically inclined students waiting for a system that acknowledges their talents alongside academic and sporting achievements.
