In what could be a pleasant surprise for
students in Sikkim, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today pledged a 100
per cent fee waiver up to the college level and full refunds to those
who have already paid their fees. He announced this during the
inauguration of a new multipurpose building of Yangang Senior Secondary
School in South Sikkim.
The chief minister also said students
henceforth will not be charged any caution money, admission or other
additional fees. Commenting on the recent students’ agitation, Chamling
said his government has swung into action and set up an inquiry
committee to probe the incident. Violence is not the solution to a
problem, he noted, adding the matter could have been resolved amicably
and not by trying to defame the state government.
“I can understand the sentiments of the
students,” said Chamling. “Nonetheless, I stress that the true purpose
of education is to make a person self-reliant and aware of his
potential. Education should not become just a means to secure a
government job. This is definitely not the purpose of education.”
Responding to allegations of
victimisation of those government employees who had allegedly supported
the opposition during the elections, the chief minister said he holds
the record of being the longest serving chief minister in the country,
and being such a senior politician, he would never resort to cheap
politics.(EOIC)