JKBOSE exam fee hike: Parents oppose decision

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 11

The hike in the annual examination fee by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) for board examinations (Classes X and XII) has not gone down well with parents.

A majority of parents whose children are studying in state-run schools have taken up the issue with the heads of the institutes expressing concern over the hike in the examination fee.

“In the 2018-19 session, my elder brother deposited examination fee of more than Rs 700 for his son who appeared in Class X board exam. This year, I have been informed by the school authorities that the examination fee for the session 2019-20 is more than Rs 800,” Mulkh Raj, a parent, said.

“I have two children studying in a government school. One is in Class X and other is in Class XII. The examination fee for Class XII is yet to be notified. The school education board should stick to fee for at least 2-3 years without any hike,” he maintained.

“The examination fee for reappearing in one subject as well as all subjects is same, which is not justified,” said Rajni Bala, another parent.

The J&K Private Schools Association has blamed parents too for remaining silent on the issue. “Instead of questioning us, they should take lesson from parents whose children are studying in government schools by demanding reply from the board authorities about increase in board examination fee,” Ajay Gupta, an office-bearer of the J&K Private Schools Association, said.

“The school education board alone is not authorised to decide about fee to be charge for the board examination. There is a specific committee for the same comprising officers from BOSE and the Finance Department to fix the board examination fee,” a JKBOSE official said.