'7.5 crore students affected in 10 years': Rahul Gandhi calls paper leaks the 'norm'

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said India's education system has reached a stage where paper leaks have become "the norm", alleging that the issue affects millions of students and requires a political consensus to resolve.Addressing a student outreach programme, "Chhatron Ki Goonj," in Uttarakhand's Dehradun, he clarified that the event was not a political meeting but focused on the concerns, struggles and future of the youth."This is not a political meet; it's about youth, their future, struggles and difficulties," PTI quoted the Lok Sabha leader of opposition as saying.The Raebareli MP further said that more than 7.5 crore students had been affected by paper leaks over the past 10 years, with 152 cases reported but no convictions recorded."From top to bottom, the entire education system is involved in paper leaks," he claimed, adding that "advanced technology" was being used to carry out such frauds."If you have crores, you can select from a menu card of paper leaks," the Congress leader stated.Rahul Gandhi also called for a political consensus to end paper leaks, stressing that all parties must implement measures to protect students."There can be political consensus on ending paper leaks which everyone must implement," he added.Calling for reforms in the examination system, he argued that the existing model was "outdated" and needed to evolve."The current exam testing system is of the 19th century; we must evolve a 21st-century system," the asserted.He proposed shifting from a government-centric to a student-centric examination framework, with secure question banks and randomised question papers to prevent leaks."Today's exam system is government-centric; we want a student-centric system," he maintained.Rahul Gandhi also demanded protection and compensation for students affected by paper leaks, along with immediate re-examinations for those impacted by compromised tests.On educational institutions, he argued that political organisations should not control campuses and that vice-chancellors should not be appointed from a single organisation."No political party or organisation should have a hold on any educational institution; VCs shouldn't be from one organisation," Rahul Gandhi stated.He further claimed that the current system benefits a small section while harming honest students."One per cent uses the system, follows the path of paper leaks and hurts the 99 per cent others who are honest and poor," he concluded.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.