HC summons 26 city school heads for charging extra fees

The High Court (HC) Sunday summoned the heads of 26 schools in the city and their governing body chiefs to explain the additional examination fees charged from Secondary School Certificate (SSC) candidates from their respective institutions, reports UNB.

The court asked the headmasters or principals of the 26 educational institutions and chairmen of their governing bodies to appear before it in person on January 6 to explain why action will not be taken against them for charging extra fees beyond the amount set by the government.

An HC bench comprising Justice Dr Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman came up with the order following a probe report submitted by Dhaka Education Board.

The report says the 26 institutions have taken higher examination fees from the SSC candidates of 2015 than the government-fixed Tk 1,400.

On November 26, the HC asked the government to immediately stop charging excessive examination fees from the SSC candidates across the country.

Earlier following a report published in vernacular daily The Daily Jugantor, the court on November 10 issued a suo moto rule asking the government to explain as to why charging the extra examination fees should not be declared illegal.

The High Court also directed the Dhaka Education Board to submit a report in this regard and asked the Jugantor reporter confirm the authenticity of his report.

Following the court order, Advocate Mizanur Rahman submitted the report on Sunday on behalf of the education board while Barrister AKM Mustaque Ahmed the affidavit on behalf of the Jugantor reporter.