Increasing exam fees mid-academic year is unjustified: S.L. Bhojegowda

Increasing exam fees mid-academic year is unjustified: S.L. Bhojegowda

Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, Oct. 8, 2026: Legislative Council Member S.L. Bhojegowda has objected to the Department of Pre-University (PU) Education’s decision to double examination fees, questioning the need to raise fees midway through the academic year.

Speaking in Moodbidri on Thursday, Bhojegowda said the prescribed fees had already been collected from students at the beginning of the academic year. Increasing examination fees halfway through the year was unjustified, he said, questioning whether the government was facing such a financial crisis that it had to double examination fees.

A notice has been issued to aided educational institutions regarding the fee hike. Bhojegowda said increasing fees in the middle of an academic year was not a healthy practice. If fees need to be revised, students and institutions should be informed well before the start of the next academic year and the revised fee structure should be fixed accordingly, he said.

Complaints over supply of books, shoes

Bhojegowda also alleged that the shoes and socks supplied to government school students were of poor quality. Despite collecting money from students, complete sets of textbooks had not yet been distributed, he alleged, expressing dissatisfaction over the irregular supply of books and footwear.

Guest teachers awaiting salaries

He further alleged that guest teachers had not received their salaries for the past four to five months. Several issues have emerged in the education department since the Congress government came to power, he claimed.

Bhojegowda also pointed to confusion over promotions. He said vacant posts should be clearly identified when making appointments or promotions from the SSLC level to PU lecturer positions. Mixing up the posts was creating unnecessary problems, he said.

Principal leave issue

Bhojegowda also demanded that principals be allowed to avail themselves of Dasara holidays. He opposed conducting training programmes for principals during the holiday period, pointing out that they too have families and household responsibilities.

He urged the government to immediately withdraw the order denying leave to principals during the Dasara holidays.