CHARSADDA:Awami National Party (ANP) president Senator Aimal Wali Khan has criticised the recent increase in fee by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar, describing it as unjustified and an additional burden on students and their families.

In a statement issued from Wali Bagh in Charsadda, Mr Khan said the steep increase in examination-related charges, despite what he described as the board’s unsatisfactory performance, exposed the reality of the “so-called education emergency” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the BISE Peshawar should have been working to facilitate students and improve the examination system instead of becoming a source of additional financial pressure on them.

“The board has been turned into a money-making machine rather than an institution providing facilities to students and ensuring a transparent and quality examination system,” he said.

The ANP leader said that fee under different heads had been increased by up to 100 per cent within a single year. He termed the increase “unjustifiable” and said it amounted to an open injustice to students, particularly those belonging to low-income families.

He pointed out that students and their parents were required to pay substantial amounts for admission, migration, reappearance in examinations and re-totaling of marks, among other services.

Mr Khan said the increased charges were not merely a financial burden for poor families but could also become a serious hurdle for children wishing to continue their education.

He said families in the province were already struggling with rising prices, unemployment and worsening economic conditions.

In such circumstances, he added, increasing educational expenses would further restrict access to education for children from disadvantaged households.

The ANP president also raised questions about the overall performance of the Peshawar Board, saying students and parents had expressed concerns over the recent annual examinations and results.

He said complaints regarding examination results needed to be examined seriously instead of being ignored. “When students are already facing questions and concerns about the examination system and results, an increase in fee is beyond comprehension,” he said.

He demanded that the Peshawar Board immediately withdraw the recent increase in fee and review its decision in consultation with students, parents and other stakeholders.

He also called for a transparent audit of the process through which fees were determined and demanded that the board’s financial affairs be independently scrutinised.

The ANP chief urged the provincial authorities to prioritise the interests of students and their families and take practical measures to improve the quality, transparency and credibility of the examination system.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026