By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Angry Primary teachers of the State have once again decided to hit the streets on March 26 following the failure of the Education department to release their salaries which has been pending since December last year.
The teachers, under the banner of All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) met recently and resolved to organise an agitational programme on March 26 from 10 AM onwards at Student’s Field, Jaiaw, to demand immediate disbursement of salaries, head teachers’ allowances, increase in maternity leave from 120 days to 180 days and retirement benefits.
It may be mentioned that last year the State Government had approved enhancement of salaries of both ad hoc Lower Primary and Upper Primary teachers, effective from December 1, 2012.
The salary of ad hoc LP teachers was increased to Rs 6,000 from Rs 3,000, while salary of ad hoc UP teachers was raised from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000. For head teachers, the salary was hiked from Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000.
Education Minister Prof RC Laloo had, then, informed that the grant for 1225 ad hoc LP schools in the State had been raised to Rs 12,000 from Rs 6,000 per month for two teachers while for the 844 UP schools, the grant had been raised to Rs 33,000 from Rs 25,000 per month for three teachers including the head teachers irrespective of their qualifications. He had also mentioned that a total amount of Rs 1,764 lakh will be required to meet the additional expenditure.
Despite the promises, the ad hoc primary teachers are yet to receive their dues since December 2012.
