PESHAWAR, Jan 7: Despite strong opposition by the teachers community, the University of Peshawar has announced 10 per cent increase in MA and MSc examination fees for both private and regular candidates.

Sources in the office of controller of examinations said that fees had been raised in compliance with the recommendations of the university Syndicate, which allowed the administration in 1989 to increase the examination fees.

A university official said that despite the Syndicate’s decision, the administration did not increase the examination fees. He said that after 13 years only 10 per cent increase had been made, while the Syndicate had approved up to 20 per cent increase.

The official confirmed that according to the Syndicate’s decision, the administration could enhance examination fees from 10 to 20 per cent after every four years.

He said that the administration would also increase BA and BSc examination fees.

The official said that the government had already increased the salaries of the teaching staff by 50 per cent and enhanced remuneration of invigilators, therefore, the university administration approved the increase to offset its impact.

However, an office-bearer of the Peshawar University Teaching Association (Puta) told Dawn that the association recently opposed increase in the examination fee, because it would further burden the students and asked the administration to reconsider its decision.

According to a notification issued by the university, the controller of examinations has fixed Rs965 for MA previous private candidates, Rs1,085 for MA final candidates, while candidates, appearing in a single paper will have to deposit Rs355 in fee.

The University of Peshawar earned millions of rupees in the head of examination fees every year and annually about 23,000 regular and private candidates appear in the examinations.