‘Start reading’: Kerala to award students 10 grace marks for reading habit from next academic year

Thiruvananthapuram: To promote reading among school students, grace marks will be awarded, General Education Minister V Sivankutty has announced. From the next academic year, students will be eligible for up to 10 grace marks. The necessary order will be issued shortly, the Minister said while distributing prizes at the first phase of the CM Mega Quiz.

The Education Department aims to encourage children to read books, newspapers and other reading materials.

As part of the “Vayanayude Vasantham” (Spring of Reading) project, books worth ₹12 crore have been supplied to small and large libraries in around 14,000 schools across Kerala.

However, the Minister noted that for various reasons many students are not reading books, and those responsible for encouraging reading are not sufficiently promoting the habit. In this context, the Department is considering the introduction of grace marks to promote reading.

A meeting of journalists, writers and other stakeholders associated with the sector was convened in this regard. In their preliminary report, they suggested that reading habits be assessed on a project basis and that up to 10 marks be awarded as grace marks.

The minister said the scheme is expected to be implemented from the next academic year after securing the approval of the Chief Minister and others concerned. He also urged students to begin reading now in order to benefit from the proposed grace marks.