Mizoram education minister Lalchhandama Ralte has said the government will reduce admission fees by 30 per cent in all government schools for students seeking admission in class-XI. 

The minister announcement came days after the declaration of class-10 results and in the light of hardship faced by parents and students due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Addressing a felicitation function at the premises of government Mizo Higher Secondary School in Aizawl on Monday, Ralte said, “In view of the tough times face by Mizoram due to Covid-19 pandemic, the state government has decided to reduce admission fees for class-XI students seeking admission in government higher secondary schools, adhoc aided higher secondary schools, lumpsum aided higher secondary schools and deficit higher secondary schools, which receive regular grants from the government.” 

The admission fee for students seeking admission in class-XI would be reduced by 30 per cent from the existing fee, he said. 

The minister also urged all private schools to cut down their admission fees keeping in mind the difficulties faced by people due to the pandemic. 

He further urged parents to get their children admitted in government schools, which are managed by not only qualified teachers but charge no tuition fees. 

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Meanwhile, several student bodies and organisations, including Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) have lauded the state government its decision to reduce admission fees for students in these trying times. 

On June 3, the Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) had declared results for class-10 examinations in which 82.43 per cent of students successfully cleared the examination, the highest pass percentage ever achieved since the first board examination was conducted by the board in 1978. 

The examinations were held offline in April during the Covid-19 pandemic under strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. 

Although most schools performed well, at least 7 schools, including one government school, failed to get even a single student passed in the class-X board examinations. 

Ralte said that show cause notices were served to the seven schools, which have a blank pass percentage in class-10 examinations.