Panaji (Goa) The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has decided not to add the sports merit marks earned by students of class X and XII to the grand total of the candidate but will reflect separately in the marksheet from 2018.

The decision was taken during the general body meeting held on August 31; however the circular in this regard was issued on Monday.

The XII examinations are scheduled from March 5, while the SSC exams will begin from April 2.

Until last exams, sports merit marks would be added to the total marks secured by a student and shown on the marks list. However, the same had become the contentious issue as the parents and students were in fix to know whether or not the sports marks should be considered while drawing up the merit list for admission.

“The decision taken by the General Body in its meeting held on 31/08/2017 is hereby conveyed that from March 2018 onwards, sports merit marks shall be shown separately in the mark list, i.e the same shall not be added to the grand total marks secured by the candidate,” states a GBSHSE circular.