Shillong, July 20: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Monday extended its support to students protesting at Don Bosco Square in Laitumkhrah against recurring examination paper leaks and what they described as the declining state of the country’s education system.

Joining the demonstration, MPCC Secretary Manuel Badwar said the protest reflected the growing frustration among young people whose futures are being jeopardized by failures in the education sector.

“We are here in solidarity with the students,” Badwar said.

He said it was significant that students, many of whom would not normally participate in public demonstrations, had taken to the streets.

“Young people who would normally not come out are on the streets because they feel let down. Families who have struggled to educate their children also feel let down. When the government treats education as insignificant, it creates a crisis,” he said.

Badwar alleged that repeated examination paper leaks and policy decisions by the Centre reflected a lack of seriousness towards education.

“The government has shown neither empathy nor sympathy. This defines the future of our state and country. Education cannot be ignored,” he added.

Supporting the students’ demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Badwar said the country’s education system requires urgent reforms.

“If we don’t fix this now, we will keep losing generations. Education is key to economic and social development,” he said.

He clarified that the Congress was participating in the protest as concerned citizens and not merely as a political party.

“We stand with the students and with those raising this issue in Delhi. Every citizen should come forward. The country’s future needs to change course,” he said.

The protest, which was mobilized largely through social media, also saw participants express solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk and others on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over education-related issues.