By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Teacher’s Day celebrations in the state is all set to proceed with the ironic boycott of the event by the teachers themselves. Amid protests from various teachers’ associations, the Government and the student community are all inclined towards recognizing the efforts of the ‘pillars’ of the society.
Members of the Federation of All Meghalaya Ad hoc Secondary Teachers’ Association (FAMASTA), All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) and the Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers’ Association (MUPSTA) will boycott the celebrations, while the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA), which had recently withdrawn its agitation following the release of 30 per cent arrears, has extended its support to the protesting associations.
The Khasi Jaintia Higher Secondary Adhoc Teachers’ Association (KJHSATA) will hold a sit-in-demonstration at Students’ Field, to press on their demands.
Meanwhile, the official function for the Teachers’ Day will be held at the Aurobindo Institute here and the state government has also announced awards for teachers at state and district levels on the occasion. The awards comprise of cash amount of Rs 20,000 for state awardees and Rs 10,000 for district awardees.
According to the Director of Education, JD Sangma, besides the state awards, the government has decided to hand over two awards each to bigger districts like East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills, while only one award will be given in smaller districts.
“However, the newly-created districts will not be considered as separate districts and the awards will be given to only seven districts”, the Education Director added. As per the guidelines, teachers with outstanding performances, achievement in sports and other curriculum activities, social works besides having served for 15 or 20 years will be nominated by the respective schools.
Commenting on the agitation carried out by various teachers’ associations following the alleged adamant attitude of the government in meeting their demands, the Education Director said the government has done everything possible to address the grievances.
“Every year if they come all out protesting and raising various demands thinking that the government will bow down ,then they are wrong because the government will not bow down”, he said.
Sangma further said that for the private teachers, the government has only been providing them with grants. The demand for pension and other allowances is not acceptable, Sangma added.
“The salary for adhoc teachers has just been revised from Rs 5000 to Rs 8000 whereas for the upper primary and lower primary school teachers, the pay was revised in 2010,” Sangma said.