The Nationalist Party youth movement is asking for higher exam fees to be reversed in the Budget.

The MŻPN described the recent Matsec fee increases as an indirect tax on young people and their parents.

It quantified the increase in fees at almost €500,000.

The movement appealed to the Prime Minister and Education Minister to revoke the higher fees, which it claimed came at a decisive time when students “should be encouraged rather than presented with more hurdles”.

The MŻPN’s calculations were based on the number of exams undertaken in May but excluded September re-sits and requests for revision of paper that would have upped the amount the government would pocket.

“The increase in examination fees may not seem exuberant on one single examination, however these need to be multiplied by the number of examinations per sitting by each student,” the movement said.