CBSE fee hike: Move reveals govt's retrograde, vindictive mindset, says CPI

The hike in examination fees of CBSE students of class 10th and 12th reveals the government's "retrograde attitude", the CPI Tuesday said and alleged that the spike in the fees of SC/ST students also proves their "vindictive" mindset towards socially oppressed sections.

CBSE on Sunday increased the fees of Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations by up to Rs 1,150, the first hike in the last five years. The fees for general category students for both Class 10 and 12 were doubled from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500 for five subjects.

The SC and ST students, who were paying Rs 350 earlier, will now pay Rs 1,200 for five subjects, the CBSE said.

In a statement, secretary of the national council of the Communist Party of India, Binoy Viswam said the move "undermines" the proclaimed principles of right to education.

"The hike is applicable in all the CBSE schools from the current academic year itself. This move of the government reveals its retrograde approach towards students enrolled in CBSE stream.

"By tripling the fees for SC/ST students they prove their vindictive mind towards students belonging to socially oppressed sections," a statement quoting Viswan, also a Rajya Sabha MP, said.

Alleging that the "RSS controlled" government looks at the SC/ST students as the modern age descendants of 'Ekalavya', the CPI said that the Centre wanted to keep them away from the "elite" world of higher education.

"Thus they undermine the proclaimed principles of right to education. Over taxing of the SC/ST students should be viewed in the background of much boasted New Educational Policy, that they claim as the blue print for new India.

"Oppressed classes and their rights are ignored in that blue print. Their talk about 'Sab ka Saath' is hollow. CBSE attitude to SC/ST students shows that the government is not with the deprived and the poor," it said.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday had said he has directed the education department to work out a formula so that the students do not have to bear the burden of paying the hiked fee.