Cambridge Fee for O-Level Exams in Pakistan 2023

Cambridge Assessment International Educations announcement of the increase in exam registration fees per subject up to 16% for coming examination series has caused frustration among parents and students in Pakistan. CAIE is the UK-based global international qualifications provider and it is relied upon by the private education sector of the country, but its recent fee increase has faced repercussion from 85,000 students and their families who are struggling with the increasing inflation across the country.

According to local reports, the increase in fee will leave bad impact on standard O Level 10th class students, who pick Pakistan Studies, Islamic Studies, and Urdu exams, and they cost approximately Rs.10,000 per session. For 11th class students, who pick five subjects, including English, Mathematics, and the three natural sciences, the fee increase is almost Rs.15,000 per session. A-Level students will also be affected, with the total fee increase for three standard natural science subjects around Rs.6,000. The current position of CAIE Fee Hike for O-Level Exams in Pakistan 2023 is stated here.

Parents have expressed their displeasure with the fee hike and commented that public education system of Pakistan has no potential to provide internationally recognized education to the students. Some have even questioned the need for private foreign education if the country had a superior education system.

Education experts in Pakistan have also criticized CAIEs monetary policies, stating that they are not implemented with the specific socio-economic circumstances of the country in mind. As a result, they say, the financial burden on students and their families is greatly multiplied.

CAIE responded to the criticism, claiming that they keep fee in Pakistan for both classes low as compared to the fee all over the world and that increase was necessary to keep the quality of their programs high. They also stated that they are aware of local economic conditions in Pakistan and that the fee increase is much less than the prevailing rate of inflation.