Over 38,000 students in Banswara district alone will be affected by this decision. Over 80% of the district's population comes from the tribal community, most of whom live below the poverty line.
Banswara – A decision by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer, has raised concerns among thousands of families in the tribal-dominated district of Banswara. The board has abruptly increased the examination fees for grades 10 and 12, jeopardizing the education of children from poor tribal families.
The board has increased the theoretical exam fee from ₹600 to ₹850, and the practical exam fee from ₹100 to ₹200 per subject. This increase will apply to both regular and private students. Virendra Chaudhary, a senior leader of the Rajasthan Teachers’ Union (Siyaram), stated that the Ajmer Board of Secondary Education has declared the fee hike of Rs. 250 for theoretical exams and 100% for practical exams, from Rs. 100 per subject to Rs. 200, as unfair.
Over 38,000 students in Banswara district alone will be affected by this decision. Over 80% of the district’s population belongs to the tribal community, with most families living below the poverty line. Most earn a living by working as laborers in Gujarat or neighboring states, making it difficult to even make ends meet. They can barely afford to pay their children’s fees.
Local parents are outraged by this decision. Dhirajmal, a parent and former sarpanch of Bhanwar Vod Gram Panchayat, said, “This fee hike is an additional burden for poor tribal families. We are already struggling in this era of inflation. This will adversely impact our children’s education, especially girls’ education.” The looting of children and the hefty bonuses to board employees are unfair.
Teacher leader Virendra Chaudhary stated that the Board employees are being given annual bonuses of thousands of rupees by robbing poor tribal students. The Board fails to make timely payments for all tasks, from application forms to fee invoices and other Board work, including evaluation and inspection. It also makes unnecessary 20% deductions for temple expenses, magazines, and other items.
He demanded the state government conduct a high-level investigation into the arbitrary ₹35,000 bonus given to Ajmer Board employees and the additional honorarium paid in addition to their salaries. The Rajasthan Teachers’ Association, Siyaram, demanded the inclusion of a chairman and members from the tribal region in the Board’s executive committee and expressed the need for a separate board for the Banswara tribal region.
Chaudhary stated that for years, a new executive committee has been formed and, under the influence of the administrator, anti-tribal and anti-student decisions have been taken unilaterally. He stated that, as decided in a meeting chaired by the Education Secretary, starting in the 2026-27 academic year, both regular and private students will now have to pay an examination fee of ₹850, which is a step and a deep conspiracy to financially deprive tribal students across the state from education. Furthermore, the fee for practical exams has been fixed at ₹200. However, this increase is the first since 2017. Currently, ₹600 is charged for regular students, ₹650 for private students, and ₹100 for practical exams.
According to board officials, the fee increase has become necessary due to rising expenses on question paper printing, evaluation, and examination center arrangements. Currently, the board earns approximately ₹130 crore from examination fees. While this fee increase will increase this revenue, it will directly impact the pockets of approximately 2 million students across the state.
Local students and parents have expressed disagreement with this decision. Student Narayan Lal Charpota said that the cost of coaching and books is already skyrocketing, and now the increase in examination fees will make education even more difficult for ordinary families.
Siyaram Sharma, State Administrative President of the Rajasthan Teachers’ Union (Siyaram), said that the board’s decision cannot be considered administratively appropriate. The government should also announce a reimbursement relief scheme for the tribal BPL category so that economically weaker students are not deprived of the examination.
10th and 12th exams to be held from February 12
The Education Department has amended the Shivira Panchang to start the new session early. The exam schedule has been released. A letter in this regard was issued by Education Director Sitaram Jat. According to this, the 10th and 12th grade exams of the Board of Secondary Education will be held between February 12 and March 12.
Annual exams for classes 9 and 11 will be held between March 10 and 25, and for classes 5 and 8 before March 12 instead of April 2026.
Similarly, annual examinations for classes three and four, as well as six and seven, have been scheduled for March instead of April. The second competency-based assessment has also been scheduled for November instead of December, and the third assessment for March instead of April.
The Education Department has begun preparations in the district in accordance with the revised schedule. Preparations are also underway in schools.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy: Hindi News