UNB, Dhaka :The High Court on 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.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.The institutions in question are Motijheel Ideal School and College, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Cambrian School and College, Mirpur Bangla School and College, Dhaka Residential Model College, National Ideal School and College, Rajuk Uttara Model College, Raihan College, Udayan High School, Ahmed Bawani Academy, Holy Cross Girls High School, Siddheswari Girls High School, Monipur School, Alimuddin High School, Mirpur Model High School, Mirpur Shaheed Smriti High School, Anandamoyee Girls High, West and High School, Armanitola Govt High School, Mohammadpur High School, The Child Laboratory, Milestone College, Jannat Academy Mirpur, Haji Billat Ali High School, Govt Laboratory High School and YWCA. On November 26, the High Court 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.
