More than 15 law students gathered peacefully near the District Administrative Centre (DAC) in Gangtok on Monday to express solidarity with education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk and raise concerns over the integrity of the country’s education system.
The students said they were participating in their individual capacities and clarified that the gathering was not organised on behalf of their college, any Student Representative Council or any other organisation.
Holding placards carrying messages such as “Fair Exams. Fair Future.”, “Our Future, Our Responsibility.” and “Accountability Is Not Optional.”, the participants called for greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of examinations and the overall education system.
The students said issues such as examination paper leaks and concerns over the credibility of competitive examinations have affected students across the country, including those in Sikkim. They stressed that maintaining the integrity of examinations is essential to ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all candidates.
During the peaceful gathering, the participants expressed disappointment over what they described as shortcomings in the management of the education system. They urged the authorities to introduce stronger safeguards to prevent irregularities and restore public confidence in examination processes.
The students also emphasised that education should remain free from uncertainty and that every student deserves a transparent and credible system in which merit is fairly recognised. They said accountability at every level is necessary to protect the interests of students and maintain trust in educational institutions.