By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Miffed over insensitivity of the State Government towards their various problems, college and school teachers under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM) as a mark of protest have announced their first phase of agitational programme.
The JACATCM made this announcement at a rally held at Synod Complex, Motphran here on Wednesday.
The first phase of their agitation would start from August 27 and will continue till September 5.
“We are quite appalled by the approach of the Education Minister, Prof RC Laloo on this matter, JACATAM chairman ED Nongsiang said.
The JACATAM is not only surprised at Laloo’s refusal to meet them but also felt insulted when he refused to discuss issues relating to his department.
Nongsiang said, “Although we have been trying to meet the deputy chief minister, but till date he has refused to meet us. Instead, he asked us to meet with his officers, who, in fact, cannot take decisions on policy matters”.
“We have been seeking an appointment with Laloo to discuss various issues since last year and a reminder was sent on August 6 this year but till date, we haven’t received any response from the minister concerned.”
He also informed that the JAC only received a letter sent by the Education Minister to the Deputy Secretary, Education instructing him to write a letter to the Director of School Education and Literacy asking him to call the members of the association and officers of the education department to converge in the office of the Commissioner and Secretary of Education LR Sangma to discuss the matter.
Announcing their agitational programme, Nongsiang said the members of the association will wear black badges on August 27, observe pen down strike on August 29 followed by a mass casual leave (CL) on September 3, dharna in various districts and zones on September 4 and a mass rally to be held in Shillong on September 5.
The demands put forth by the association include regular and uniform payment of salary to all the teachers of the government aided schools and colleges, provincialisation of teachers’ services or professions to all government aided schools, implementation of the state education policy and MBOSE/examination reforms.
Nongsiang also mentioned that the JAC would meet again on August 31 to decide its future course of action.