Classes 5, 8 boards to fetch Rs 20 crore

Amid several confusions and opposition from the academicians, School Education Department announced board exams for Classes 5 and 8, which is in line the new education policy by Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD).

Accordingly, after announcing the examination dates, preparations were in full swing to collect fees from students of private schools. The exam fees were fixed at Rs 100 each for Class 5 students and Rs 200 each for Class 8 students in the self-finance institutions.

About 13 lakh students from government, government aided and private schools are expected to appear for board exams, which would be held from April this year. With six lakh students from Class 5 likely to write the exams, the fees collection from them would be around Rs 6 crore and at the same time about 7 lakh Class 8 students would be paying Rs 14 crore for the annual exam.

In addition, the directorate will also get about Rs 80 crore as exams fees from Classes 10, 11 and 12 students, who also appear for the board exams.

A senior official from the Directorate of Examinations said that the fees collected from the students would be used for exam purposes including printing of question papers and mark sheets. He said, apart from the revenue received through the fees, the Tamil Nadu government has allocated about Rs 125 crore to the directorate this year.

Meanwhile, opposing the move of collecting fee for board exams, S Murugavel, a representative of TN Parents Teachers Association of Private Schools said, “There is a misconception among several persons that all parents, who seek admission in private schools, are rich. Many parents are paying fees with the help of sponsors. Therefore, government should avoid collecting exam fees from the students.”

“Conducting board exams itself cannot be accepted and at this juncture, how come the fees collection will be welcomed,” said Tamil Nadu Teachers Association president P K Ilamaran.