The Education Minister should publish any studies that led to the Matsec examination fees being raised in what is essentially the introduction of a new education tax, the Opposition spokesman said yesterday.

“The least the government could have done, before introducing such fees, was to carry out a social impact assessment.

“This should be published immediately,” Joseph Cassar told a press conference held outside the Matsec Office at the University of Malta.

A family with two children sitting for Matsec exams would pay an extra €140, he said.

The revised fees stirred controversy, especially in the case of students sitting for O levels (SEC), which have gone up from €13.98 to €21 per subject.

At intermediate level, the new fee was raised from €18.63 to €25 and at A level from €20.96 to €28.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo reacted to the PN by saying the Matsec body had been left to deteriorate by the previous administration, racking up losses of more than €400,000.

He said the system put in place by the previous government was not sustainable and needed to be addressed.

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

The new rates, he added, were also cheaper than alternative examinations of the same level taken by Maltese and Gozitan students.

A Matsec board spokeswoman had told Times of Malta the fees had been raised to cover the increase in expenses.

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