By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Primary school teachers of the State have decided to intensify their agitation by calling a strike on September 5 (Teachers’ Day) if the government fails to address their demands before August 15.
Disclosing this after a day-long dharna near Raj Bhavan here on Friday, All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) general secretary FC Shullai said “Lack of response from the government with regards to our demands leaves us with no choice but to boycott the upcoming Teachers’ Day celebration.”
“Teachers’ Day celebration would hold no ground if the teachers are mistreated and neglected,” he said.
“Talks have been held continuously between the Association and the Director of Higher Education but the same has not progressed as the Education Minister Prof RC Laloo is hesitant to talk about the issue,” Shullai added.
He also mentioned that as the Education Minister, Laloo should have invited the teachers for talks, but he preferred to keep the matter in abeyance. “This according to us is a sign of disrespect to the teachers’ community,” Shullai said.
Earlier, the day-long dharna saw the participation of a huge number of primary teachers from all over the State including Garo Hills. It was learnt that over 200 teachers from Garo Hills made it to the dharna despite a bandh in Assam. Over 500 teachers from Jaintia Hills also participated in the agitation along with teachers from Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi.
The teachers’ body has been demanding head teacher allowance, thirty per cent arrears on the basis of the revised pay scale of 2007, timely disbursement of salary, etc., among other demands.
Chief Minister’s response:
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday asked Chief Secretary WMS Pariat to look into the matter and report it back to him.
Dr Sangma admitted that the government has not been able to provide the kind of attention which the Education department requires, but stated that the department has been asked to come with proposals for provincialising some government colleges.
“Some colleges would be provincialised,” he said adding that the respective managing committees should share responsibilities for the smooth functioning of their institutions.
The Chief Minister added that community-run institutions were preferable when it comes to smooth functioning of the institutions.
