(Adds government statement)

The increase in Matsec exam fees revealed last week was a new tax on education imposed by the government, the PN's spokesman for education, Joseph Cassar, said this morning.

Speaking at a press conference, he criticised the government for not having revealed the increases itself and said the increases would be a burden on many families.

The PN, he said. wanted to see an efficient and well financed Matsec system but students and their families did not want to shoulder the burden when funds were being squandered on so many other things, such as on the many roles held by ministers, Labour MPs and some of their wives.

Dr Cassar asked if anybody had been consulted about the increases and whether any studies had been made.

The least that could have been done by the government, he said, was a social impact assessment.

Nationalist Party candidate Justin Schembri observed that this was not an additional charge which people could avoid, such as by opting not to buy something. This was a charge which all students sitting for their exams had to face.

She said this was the first rise since 2002 and the fee structure was expected to remain fixed for the next few years.

Matsec Examination Fees

  Old fee New fee
Registration fee (per application) € 11.65   €15
Subject at SEC level € 13.98   €21
Subject at Intermediate Matriculation level € 18.63   €25
Subject at Advanced Matriculation level € 20.96   €28
Additional fee for subjects with a practical component:    
- Practical papers (Advanced level science subjects) € 6.99  
- Subject at SEC level     €10
- Subject at Intermediate Matriculation level     €20
- Subject at Advanced Matriculation level     €20
Late application fee € 46.59   €70
Very late registration fee per subject (up to four subjects) € 23.29   €35

RATES CHEAPER THAN OTHER EXAMS OF SAME LEVEL - GOVERNMENT

In a reply the government said Matsec’s financial situation deteriorated in the past three years to a loss of €402,500 because it was unsustainable.

It said the situation had to be addressed especially when Matsec was facing new developments.

Moreover, the SEC vocational exam, which will now cost €21 was an alternative to BTEC exams, which cost more than €130.

The new rates, the government said, were also cheaper than those of examinations of the same level taken by Maltese and Gozitan students.

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