MUMBAI: The state education board has decided to refund 14-18 per cent of the fees collected for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School (HSC) exams that got cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schools and junior colleges have been directed to upload details of students who had registered for the SSC and HSC 2021 exams. The amount to be refunded will be transferred to each school’s bank account. It will then be the responsibility of the school to return the refunded fees to students.
More than 16 lakh class 10 and 14 lakh class 12 students had registered for the board exams. The results, based on internal assessments, were declared by the board in July-August.
After a retired principal from Miraj in Sangli district filed a PIL seeking refund of exams fees, the Bombay high court had asked the board to consider the plea. The petitioner had pointed out that the board had collected over Rs 150 crore from students, and not returning it after cancellation of exams would amounted to profiteering.
On Thursday, the board decided to partially refund the collected money. Class 10 students who paid Rs 415 for the SSC exam will get a refund of Rs 59 or 14%. Class 12 students who had paid Rs 520 will get a refund of Rs 94 (18%). Students who appeared for the supplementary exams in October will not be entitled for the refund.
State board officials said though exams were cancelled, expenses were incurred as preparations for the impending exams made.
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