Intermediate exam fee hike announced across Pakistan, here’s fee and penalty details

All 14 educational boards in Pakistan, including Rawalpindi Division, have announced a significant increase in examination fees for Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) students, set to take effect for the 2025 intermediate exams. This increase comes as financial pressures mount on educational institutions, yet the move has raised concerns for families already struggling with rising educational costs.

Under the new fee structure, regular students will now pay a total of Rs. 4,800, which includes Rs. 1,400 for arts students and Rs. 1,500 for science students. Private candidates face higher fees, with a total of Rs. 5,000; arts students will pay Rs. 1,500, and science students will pay Rs. 1,600. Additionally, each student, regardless of category, will be required to pay Rs. 1,000 each for registration, certification, and processing fees. A further Rs. 700 covers development, scholarship, and postal expenses. For students transferring from other boards, an extra Rs. 1,000 will be charged for a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Here is a table summarizing the relevant information regarding the increased intermediate exam fees across Pakistan:

CategoryArts StudentsScience StudentsAdditional Fees
Regular StudentsRs. 1,400Rs. 1,500Registration Fee: Rs. 1,000
Certificate Fee: Rs. 1,000
Processing Fee: Rs. 1,000
Development, Scholarship & Postal Charges: Rs. 700
Total Fee: Rs. 4,800
Private CandidatesRs. 1,500Rs. 1,600Registration Fee: Rs. 1,000
Certificate Fee: Rs. 1,000
Processing Fee: Rs. 1,000
Development, Scholarship & Postal Charges: Rs. 700
Total Fee: Rs. 5,000
Transfer StudentsN/AN/AAdditional NOC Fee: Rs. 1,000

Fee Submission Deadlines and Penalties

The deadlines for fee submissions have been outlined as follows:

Submission PeriodFee TypePenalty
By November 27, 2024Single FeeNone
By December 11, 2024Double FeeDouble Original Fee
By December 24, 2024Triple FeeTriple Original Fee
After December 24, 2024Late Submission PenaltyRs. 200 daily until Feb 11, 2025
February 11 – February 21, 2025Late Submission PenaltyRs. 700 daily until Feb 21, 2025

Late submissions will incur daily penalties: Rs. 200 per day until February 11, 2025, escalating to Rs. 700 per day until February 21, 2025.

Parental Concerns Over Accessibility

The fee increase has sparked widespread criticism, particularly from parents who argue that education costs should be managed by the government as part of its constitutional duty. Parents like Nadeem Asghar and Faisal Mufti voiced concerns that such steep increases could place educational opportunities out of reach for low-income families, potentially forcing students to abandon their studies due to financial constraints.



Pakistan Times
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