Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Sunam Aman Arora on Sunday urged Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to immediately roll back the “anti-student decision” by the state education board of charging Rs 15,000 as re-examination fee for the “golden” chance to the Class X and XII students. Arora, alleging that the students are being fleeced by providing the “golden chance” in the name of Guru Nanak Dev, demanded that the government should not charge students more than Rs 550 as re-examination fee.
Notably, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) had announced to give a ‘golden’ chance to the students, who have failed in the Class X or XII board examinations in the past 15 years, to reappear in the tests by paying exam fee of whopping Rs 15,000.
Arora, on Sunday shot off a letter to the Chief Minister, ridiculing the decision “for looting the students of the State who want to reappear for examination to X and XII Board exams since 2004”.
“While normally the re-examination or compartment fee of the Board is between Rs 1200 to 1500, this time, PSEB has fixed Rs 15,000 as re-examination fee, last date for which is September 4,” said Arora.
He added, “And unfortunately and ridiculously, it has attributed this decision of increasing the fee by more than 10 times as a 'golden chance' solely dedicated to the 550th birth centenary of Guru Nanak Dev, which amounts to disrespecting the Guru.”
Arora urged the Chief Minister that if the Government really wanted to pay tribute to Guru Nanak Dev, “it should immediately roll back its anti-student decision and should not charge students more than Rs 550 as re-examination fee”.