Gangtok: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly has passed three new university bills, bringing the total number of private universities in the state to 25.
According to Sikkim’s Secretary of the Education Department, Tashi Chopel, 13 of these universities are fully operational, while the remaining 12 await the Governor’s approval and are in the process of land transfer.
The three new university bills passed by the Assembly are the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill University Sikkim Bill, 2025, the Sengol International University Bill, 2025, and the Fusion University Sikkim Bill, 2025. These bills were introduced by the Minister-in-Charge of the Education Department and were approved without significant opposition.
Komal Chamling, in charge of the Cheli Morcha of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), raised concerns about the increasing number of private universities in the state. She questioned the credibility of these institutions, alleging that some are linked to organizations with questionable backgrounds. Chamling also expressed concerns about the impact of these universities on students and the potential for financial interests driving their rapid approval.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has a different vision for higher education in the state. He aims to establish at least one university in each constituency, believing that this will contribute to the overall development of the state. The chief minister sees higher education institutions as a means to bring opportunities, create employment, and boost the local economy. His goal is to decentralise education, providing students across Sikkim with access to quality higher education without having to migrate to other states.
Read More: CRPF Extends Support to Meghalaya School through Civic Action Program