Abolishing Examination Fee For Class 9, 10 Students

Only Public Sector Students To Get Exam Fee Exemption
Lahore, July 04: Huge financial implications involved in abolishing the examination fee being charged by the education boards, has forced the government to weigh different options, like extending the favour only to Class 9th and 10th students of the public sector schools.

According to a study conducted by the Punjab Higher Education Department,
at least Rs 3 billion would be required annually by all the eight Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs) of the province if the government exempts the examination and registration fee of matric and intermediate students of public and private institutions.

The announcement regarding waiving the examination fee was made by Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif a couple of months ago. However a final decision in this regard is yet to be made.

Following a detailed study, the Punjab Higher Education Department on Friday moved a summary to the chief minister, giving the government different option how to bear minimum financial burden in this regard.

Sources in the department said if the favour was extended only to students of public schools (Class IX & X) it would cost the government less than Rs 1 billion.

They said it had been identified that the BISEs are charging fees in different heads including examination fees, registration fees and other heads like re-checking answer-sheets, correction of name and date of birth etc. A Lahore board official said the boards had to make arrangements for exams including setting up of centres, transportation, paper marking and remuneration of exam staff etc by the fee collected by the students. He added if the same was to be abolished the government would have to provide financial assistance to the boards.

An official of the department, seeking anonymity, said the department was not clear whether the chief minister's announcement was related to examination fees only or all kinds of fees being charged by the boards.

The sources said it was likely that the CM might approve fee-waiver for Class IX and X students of government schools only, as the government was already offering free education including free textbooks upto matriculation in the public sector schools.

They added those studying in schools working under Punjab Education Foundation's Financial Assisted Schools (FAS) programme might also be offered the fee waiver as under the said programme the government was bearing tuition fee of the students.

The chief minister had taken a strict notice with regard to abolishing examination boards' fees at a meeting on June 18 and categorically announced "abolition of examination fees being charged from regular and private students by all the eight education boards in the province".

A senior official of the department said the summary had been moved to the chief minister, adding a final decision about elimination of the fee being charged by the boards would be taken in a couple of days.