Some 40 Class XII students of Trashitse Higher Secondary School are preparing to resit board examination for English II, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics subjects from January 19. 

The news has come as a shock to parents and students who were eagerly waiting for the defining results. Instead, the students are drawn back to the school to test their knowledge and competency in these subjects for the second time in one year.  

We can only feel how frustrated they are because the system failed them. As painful and difficult as it is, the students have to gather their strength and do the best they can, once again. 

While the incident is unfortunate, the way authorities dealt with it swiftly is the right way and very commendable. Pondering the costs involved in redoing the examination and indecision could have cost the students precious time and further complications. 

This is not the first time we have had such an incident and it will not be the last. In the winter of 2014, English II question paper was leaked. However, despite the public outcry the Bhutan Council School Examination and Assessment decided not to redo the examination and settled for an alternative: to validate the results based on marks students obtained in the sister paper, English I. 
Some 40 Class XII students of Trashitse Higher Secondary School are preparing to resit board examination for English II, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics subjects from January 19. 
We can not let criminals walk away with their wrongdoings just because it’s too expensive to render justice. At the same time, we cannot just take an easy decision because it costs a lot and requires us to work harder. We can not compromise the fairness and justice of our system and expose meritocracy to randomness. 

At the same time, it is beyond our comprehension as to how such a lapse went unnoticed until the day of the opening of the boxes for evaluation after the consignment changed numerous hands. How did the officials handling those packages not find the tampering on the boxes is what everyone is asking. All the checks and balances in place to avoid such lapses have failed. 

Class XII examination bears a huge implication on the career and lives of children as it is the real launching pad for their future. While it is important to identify and mete out punishment to the culprit (s) behind all this, it is more important that the government takes full responsibility for this serious failure. 

For now, while the police investigate, it is important that the students be looked after and provided all the support. The government has pledged necessary support, including counselling and it is the least we can do.