The government had been urged to increase the charge for checking the records of the High Secondary (HS Exam) for quite some time, but due to the absence of a general exam for three years, there had been no change in the fee structure. However, this year, the board has announced a hike in the charge, which will result in pay raises for examiners, chief examiners, and scrutinizers. Despite this, protests against the DA (Dearness Allowance) continue throughout the state, and a strike has been called on March 10.
Nonetheless, this announcement has brought a momentary sense of relief to High Secondary school teachers who have been experiencing rising transportation costs. The cost of bookkeeping has not been raised at the same rate as transportation costs, leading to financial difficulties for the teachers. Previously, examiners used to receive Rs. 5 per account, but this amount has now been increased to Rs. 6. Additionally, one rupee will be given to each account for scrutiny. Chief examiners will now receive a TA (Travel Allowance) of Rs. 250, as opposed to the previous amount of Rs. 200. The TA for examiners will range from Rs. 50 to Rs. 150, depending on their distance.
Coordinators working at district camps will receive Rs. 2,000, up from the previous amount of Rs. 1,500, and their TA has been increased from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100. Furthermore, the fee for a scrutiny teacher has been raised from Rs. 5 to Rs. 6 for those who are not satisfied with their book and wish to have it reviewed.
The increase in remuneration was necessary to align with the rise in prices, as teachers are not only responsible for paying for their meals but also for their transportation. Swapan Mondal, the leader of the Bengali Teachers' Association, however, stated that the hike in fees for secondary schools was much lower compared to that of higher secondary schools. The Higher Secondary exam is set to commence on March 14th in the state.