SHILLONG: Amidst all the scuffles and protests, the 51st Teachers’ Day was celebrated in the city along with the rest of the country with an official programme held at the Aurobindo Hall on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the celebrations took an ugly turn when hundreds of protesting teachers broke barricades to proceed towards Aurobindo Hall with the motive of disrupting the official function.
The teachers under the banner of All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers Association (AMPSTA) took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the delay in fulfilling their long pending demands.
Though the protest march started on a silent note, things took a turn for the worse when the teachers broke all the barricades placed by security personnel after reaching the All India Radio junction and marched towards the Aurobindo Auditorium.
What followed was a two-hour drama as teachers and police personnel entered into a scuffle forcing the district administration to bring in additional forces.
On reaching the venue, the agitators were once again stopped by the police team and senior police officials. The district magistrates were also posted there to restore normalcy. The policemen used minor force to push back the agitating teachers from the spot but to no avail.
Finally, at around 2 pm, the Education Minister RC Laloo shot off a letter to the agitating teachers expressing his desire to meet them on September 28.
After the invitation, the teachers decided to disperse from the spot after which the official function finally took off at the venue which was sealed by the police personnel.
The Teachers’ Day celebration was also boycotted by the Federation of All Meghalaya Ad hoc Secondary Teachers’ Association (FAMASTA) and the Khasi Jaintia Higher Secondary Adhoc Teachers’ Association (KJHSATA).
Meanwhile, teachers from across the various districts of Meghalaya were felicitated with state and district awards during the official function at Aurobindo Hall to recognize their services in the field of education.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Prof RC Laloo said that he appreciated the spirit of agitating teachers who carried out their struggle even on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Prof Laloo, however, asserted that the state government had increased the salary of upper primary, secondary and higher secondary adhoc school teachers during the years 2010 and 2011.
Chief Secretary WMS Pariat who was also present on the occasion stated that the expectation of every community was on the rise and the government needs do the balancing act in fulfilling the demands keeping in mind the limited resources available.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Education department PS Thangkhiew while delivering his keynote address said the department has brought some rules for higher and technical education for the overall welfare of the education sector in the state.
Thangkhiew also informed that the government is giving final touches to the Right to Education Act which will be implemented next year.
It may be mentioned that the long pending demands of the primary teachers include delay in disbursement of salary, head teacher allowances etc.
