Education to be made free for Sikkimese students in govt institutes

The Sikkim Cabinet has given its seal of approval to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling's announcement to make education free for Sikkimese students in government schools and colleges.

Sikkimese students, in this context, has been defined as bona fide Sikkimese having valid documents like the Sikkim Subject Certificate or their descendents with identification certificates.

A press note issued by the Home Department said students who do not possess such documentation and are enrolled at government colleges and schools will have to pay the prescribed fees.

This proposal of the Human Resource Development Department was approved by the Cabinet in its last sitting held on August 12 last, chaired by the Chief Minister.

This waiver of fees will be applicable with retrospective effect from the current academic session 2014 and the Cabinet has also sanctioned and approved the proposal of the HRDD to 'refund' the fees already deposited by Sikkimese students.

This announcement follows a four-fold increase in college fees imposed by the HRDD from the current academic session which had triggerred protest by the students.

The fee was initially rolled back followed by the CM's announcement that all fees would be waived for Sikkimese students up to college level.