Massive Hike in MP Board Exam Fees: Students and Parents Concerned, See Details
The MP Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh (MPBSE), while releasing its new admission policy for the 2026-27 academic session, has hiked examination fees by approximately 80 percent. Amidst rising inflation, this decision is expected to directly impact the students' pockets.
Under the new framework, regular students in Classes 10 and 12 will now have to pay higher fees. The examination fee, which previously stood at Rs 1,200, has been raised to Rs 1,500. Meanwhile, the examination fee for private (self-study) students has been fixed at Rs 1,600.
Increased Financial Burden Starting from Class 9
The MPBSE has not limited the fee hike to just the board examinations; it has also increased the enrollment fee for Class 9. Students will now be required to pay Rs 500 instead of the present Rs 350. This implies that the additional financial pressure on students will begin right from the school level.
Obtaining old mark-sheets becomes more expensive
If a student requires a mark sheet that is 10 years old, they will now have to pay a significantly higher amount than before. The MPBSE has raised the fee for this service from Rs 600 to 1,000. This decision could prove particularly troublesome for individuals who require old academic documents for employment purposes or for pursuing higher education.
Greatest impact on D.El.Ed. Students
A substantial fee hike has also been implemented for students pursuing a D.El.Ed. (Diploma in Elementary Education). Regular students will now be required to pay fees amounting to up to Rs 7,000 for all subjects. Furthermore, if a student appears for the examination during a "second chance" attempt, they will have to pay a fee ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 7,000, depending on the specific subject. This has posed a new financial challenge for young people aspiring to become teachers.
School Affiliation Fees Also Increased
Under the new policy, school affiliation fees have also been hiked.
Government schools up to the 10th grade will now be required to pay Rs 20,000.
For private schools, this fee has been fixed at Rs 22,000.
Meanwhile, for higher grades (extending up to the 10th grade), government schools will have to pay a fee of Rs 27,000, while private schools will have to pay up to Rs 30,000.
Experts believe that this increased financial pressure on schools could, in turn, manifest as a hike in student tuition fees.
Although the Board of Secondary Education cites administrative costs and the need to improve educational infrastructure as the rationale behind the fee hike, this decision currently appears to be placing a heavy burden on the general public.
'Best of Five' Abolished
The "Best of Five" system (under which marks from only the top 5 subjects out of 6 were counted) has been discontinued for Class 10. Now, marks from all subjects will be mandatory, making this examination even more challenging.
Resentment Among Students and Parents
Following this decision, resentment is evident among both students and parents. They argue that bearing this additional expense will not be easy for families already grappling with the burden of inflation. All in all, the new admission policy has further driven up the cost of education. It now remains to be seen whether the government or the Board of Secondary Education will take any steps to provide relief in this regard.