By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A day after college and school teachers launched their agitation, the State government on Wednesday invited the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM), an umbrella organization of teachers, for talks.
While asking the JACATAM to call off its ongoing agitation, the State Government in an official release on Wednesday invited teachers to meet the Commissioner and Secretary of Education department and the Director, Higher and Technical Education and also the Director, School Education and Literacy to discuss their demands with a view to find out permanent solution.
The release also stated that reasonable demands would be examined and corrective action would be taken as and where possible.
Earlier, the teachers were invited to meet the Commissioner and Secretary of Education Department and the Director, Higher & Technical Education and the Director, School Education & Literacy to discuss their demands
“However despite being invited on two occasions, the Association declined the invitation and instead chose to resort to agitation,” the statement said.
The Government also mentioned that it was committed to its overall objective of safeguarding the interests of teaching community and overall development and education of youth of the State.
Miffed over the alleged ‘insensitivity’ of Education Minister Prof RC Laloo towards their cause, the teachers’ body had announced a series of agitation a week ago.
It may be mentioned that the Association is scheduled to observe a 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 in Shillong on September 5.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers Association (MUPSTA) has extended its support to the ongoing agitation of JACATAM.