PSEB golden chance: Academics criticise board over high fee

Amritsar, August 23

Government teachers have criticised Punjab School Education Board’s (PSEB) move to charge Rs15, 000 from students of Class X and XII for taking reappear exam.

The special chance has been introduced to mark the 550th Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev. Anyone with a compartment from 2004 onwards can apply for the exam.

Ashwani Awasthi, district president of Democratic Teacher Front, said: “It is sad that students are being charged exorbitant fee in name of Guru Nanak Dev. There should have been a nominal increase in the fee for the same. Fifteen thousand is too much. This is a commercial move.”

“The idea to give a special chance to students is a great initiative, but fee should not have been so high,”said Jyoti Sharma, a resident.

Many academics also feel that students of government schools will face huge difficulty in depositing high fee. Students are required to deposit the fee on September 4 and forms on September 9. The examination will be conducted in September itself.

Mangal Singh Tanda, a government school teacher, said: “This is a way of minting money. It is not possible for students of government schools to spend high amount on their reappear. A meagre increase Rs500 would have been sufficient and a good gesture to mark 550th parkash utsav of Guru Nanak Dev.” — TNS