By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Irish school teachers have expressed shock over the plight of the school teachers in the State even as they stated that the plight of the school teachers here can be best compared with the position of the teachers in Ireland 50 years ago.
The Irish school teachers made this observation while interacting with the media person after meeting the members of the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) at Siloam in Umiam on Wednesday evening.
“We are really shocked to learn about the plight about the school teachers in Meghalaya. We never expected that the service condition of the school teachers would be so pathetic. We are also surprised to learn that the teachers do not have any service rules even as there is no uniformity in the pay structures,” Irish National Teacher’s Organisation (INTO) member Alison Gilliland told newsmen.
Moreover, Association of Secondary School in Ireland president Gerry Breslin said that it is important for the Government to realize that the positive growth in the education system would only take place if the welfare of the teachers is being given topmost priority.
Informing about his interaction with the school children of various schools in the city and also in the outskirt, Breslin said that he was surprised to see that none of the students wanted to become teachers.
“This reflects the poor image of the teachers in the State. The Government needs to make teaching a vibrant profession to attract more qualified people to join the profession,” he said.
Meanwhile, INTO member John O’Brien said that the teacher student ratio of 1:60 in the State is very high.
“In Ireland, the teacher student ratio is only 1:19. The Government also needs to address this issue since it is impossible for the teachers to perform to his optimum level if they have to attend to so many students,” O’Brien who is also a member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said.
He however assured that they are going to provide full support to the members of the KJDSTA in their struggle for their right.
Meanwhile, KJDSTA president ED Nongsiang said that it was great learning experience to hear from the Irish teachers about their welfare and working condition.
