Darjeeling, May 16: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) has come under the scanner following its decision to hike fees by astronomical proportions.

The executive committee of the council at its meeting on April 23 decided to revise the fee structure with “immediate effect” for a period of three years.

A circular issued by the academic body said the hike was necessitated because of several reasons, including “cost escalation of the new building of the council and the creation of a golden jubilee corpus fund” for subsidising the examination fees of economically-disadvantaged students. The details of the subsidy have not yet been announced.

Under the revised rate, students appearing for ICSE exams in 2009 have to pay almost four times the fees charged in 2008. From Rs 520, the exam fee has gone up to Rs 2,100.

Charge for migration from one school to another or for obtaining duplicate statement of results has also been hiked by almost three to four times (see chart). Now onwards, a student will have to shell out Rs 500, as against Rs 100, for obtaining a duplicate statement of marks. The charge for a duplicate admit card has been increased to Rs 500 from Rs 100.

Bengal has one of the largest concentrations of ICSE schools in the country. In the hills, apart from the state-run schools, all other ones are under ICSE council. “The fees hike in ISC is very similar to that of ICSE,” said a source.

Academicians say huge number of students belonging to the lower middle class would be the most affected. “They will have no alternative but to pay as the schools will definitely pass the buck on to the parents,” said an academician.

Even the schools have not been spared by the council. Every institution will now have to pay an annual registration charge of Rs 10,000, instead of Rs 3,500.

Gerry Arathoon, officiating chief executive of the council said over phone from Delhi that he was busy preparing the results, and refused comment on the issue.

The circular, dated April 25 and signed by Arathoon, states that the decision to increase the fees had been taken as there had been no revision “in some cases since 1993 and most others since 1995 and 1998”.

Reacting to the council decision, a guardian said the sudden hike is surprising.

Prakash Pradhan, vice- president of association of schools under ICSE council (Bengal chapter), said the annual general meeting of the body, to be held in Calcutta on June 4 and 5, would discuss the matter and seek a review of the fees.