23 Class 12 Students Barred from Board Exam in MP Over Fee Lapse

In Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, 23 Class 12 students were prevented from appearing in their board English examination after their school failed to submit the required exam fees to the state board before the deadline. The incident sparked protests by parents and raised questions about school accountability.

Fee Submission Lapse Leaves Students Unable to Take Exam

Shri Gayatri Vidyapeeth Higher Secondary School in Bhikangaon filed examination forms for both Class 10 and Class 12 students but did not deposit the mandated fees with the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education on time. As a result, 10 Class 12 students could not sit for their English paper, which was scheduled as part of the ongoing board examinations. Parents of the affected students gathered outside the school and blocked a nearby highway in protest, saying they had paid all required fees well before the deadline. Many said they were informed about the fee lapse only a day before the exam, leaving students without the opportunity to take the crucial test that could affect their academic year. Students preparing for competitive entrance exams, including JEE and NEET, voiced concerns that missing the English exam could jeopardise their entire academic progress for the year. One parent highlighted that even though fees were submitted to the school on time by families, the school’s failure to forward them to the board led to the setback.

Administrative Response and School Recognition Review

District authorities confirmed that the board declined to accept late fee submissions, and the English paper was conducted without the 23 students who remained ineligible. The District Education Officer (DEO) has written to the Board’s Secretary, requesting special permission to allow the affected students to appear in the remaining papers In addition, officials have recommended that the state education board consider cancelling the school’s recognition due to the procedural lapse in fee submission. The school later submitted the challan amounting to roughly INR 3.73 lakh, but by that time, the English exam had already taken place. The final decision by the state board will determine whether the students can continue their academic year without disruption or face further setbacks due to the administrative oversight.