All 14 education boards in Pakistan, including those in the Rawalpindi Division, have announced a significant increase in examination fees for Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) students. This fee increase will apply to the 2025 intermediate exams and has added to the financial strain on families already struggling with rising educational costs.
Under the updated policy, private candidates are now expected to pay Rs. 5,000, while regular students will pay a combined fee of Rs. 4,800. Regular science students will be charged Rs. 1,500, while regular arts students will be charged Rs. 1,400. Private candidates will be required to pay Rs. 1,500 for arts and Rs. 1,600 for science.
Furthermore, each student is required to pay a registration fee of Rs. 1,000, a certificate fee of Rs. 1,000, and a processing fee of Rs. 1,000. An additional Rs. 700 will be assessed to account for postal expenses, scholarship, and development. An additional Rs. 1,000 fee will be imposed on students who are transferring from other boards for a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Fee submissions are due by November 27th for single fees, December 11th for double fees, and December 24th for triple fees. The penalty for late submission will be Rs. 200 per day until February 11th, 2025, at which point it will increase to Rs. 700 per day until February 21st, 2025.
The announcement has elicited criticism, with parents urging the government to execute its constitutional obligation to cover the cost of education. Many individuals are concerned that the increasing fees will render education prohibitive for low-income families, potentially excluding students from the education system.
