Govt agrees to execute High Court directive

SHILLONG: There is good news for lower primary school teachers.

The State Government has finally agreed to implement the High Court’s order directing the state Education department to implement various demands with

effect from December this year.

An agreement in this regard was signed by the Deputy Chief Minister (in charge of education) Dr RC Laloo and the All Meghalaya Primary School Teacher’s Association (AMPSTA) leaders after a meeting held here on Monday.

The agreement has materialised after the High Court on August 4, 2013 had issued directives to the State education department in favour of the petition.

It may be recalled that AMPSTA had filed a petition in High Court in 2003 protesting government’s failure to implement its various demands including head teachers’ allowance, implementation of Contribution Provident Fund (CPF) scheme, increment for higher qualifications, death-cum-retirement gratuity.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AMPSTA general secretary FC Shullai said Government agreed to implement CPF scheme for both government and non-government deficit LP schools and advance increment for higher qualifications with effect from December 1, 2013

Over four thousand teachers across the state will be benefited once the CPF is put into implementation.

On the demands of maternity leave and confirmation of services of primary school teachers, the Education minister assured to look into those issues before arriving at a decision. With regards to the demand for inclusion of teachers appointed by the administrator as government teachers, Shullai informed that government has completed regularization of 131 posts in Jaintia Hills, 378 in Garo Hills and 8 in Khasi Hills. Decision on remaining posts is awaited as the matter is still lying pending with the court, he added.