CBSE Board Exam Fees Hike Is Unfortunate, Casteist, Anti-Poor: BSP Chief Mayawati

In a series of tweet, the BSP chief Mayawati demanded an immediate withdrawal of fee hiked by the board.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Tuesday termed the decision taken by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to increase the exam fee for class 10 and 12 students as 'extremely unfortunate, casteist and anti poor'. (PTI)

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Tuesday termed the decision taken by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to increase the board exam fee as 'extremely unfortunate, casteist and anti poor'. In a series of tweet, the BSP chief demanded an immediate withdrawal of fee hiked by the board. CBSE on Sunday issued a notified that the exam fees of Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations has been increased by up to Rs 1,150, the first hike in the last five years. The fees for general category students for both Class 10 and 12 have been doubled from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500 for five subjects. While, the SC and ST students, who were paying Rs 350 earlier, will now be supposed to pay Rs 1,200 for five subjects.

अभी हाल ही में CBSE ने 10वीं व 12वीं के लिये परीक्षा शुल्क में जो 24 गुना तक बढ़ोतरी की है, जिसके तहत् अब एस.सी.-एस.टी. छात्रों को 50 रुपये के बजाय 1200 रुपये देने होंगे।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) August 13, 2019

इसी ही प्रकार सामान्य वर्ग के छात्रों के शुल्क में भी दोगुनी वृद्धि की गई है। यह अति दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण, जातिवादी व गरीब विरोधी फैसला है। CBSE इसे तुरन्त वापिस ले। बी.एस.पी. की यह माँग है।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) August 13, 2019

The hike is applicable from the 2019-20 academic session. The students appearing for the Class 10 board exams are registered for it when they are in Class 9, and those appearing for Class 12 are registered when in Class 11. In the notification, the board has asked schools to charge students accordingly and also to take the additional money, if the registration has already been done. In the wake of the decision, the parents association - All India Parents Association (AIPA) - also opposed the decision by the board, calling it "unconstitutional”. They demanded withdrawal of this fee hike as it is against the right to education of students, AIPA president Ashok Aggarwal said. Meanwhile on Monday, the Congress also demanded that the CBSE to take back the decision to hike fees of class 10 and 12 board examination, alleging that it was yet another attempt by the BJP government to target SC/ST communities. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said after according step-motherly treatment to Dalits and tribals, the BJP government is now targeting the young generation by raising the fees of board examinations. He said this is yet another attempt of the BJP government to tarnish B R Ambedkar's dream of "become educated and struggle".