Editor,
Education Department is to be congratulated for its clear stand with JACATAM on provincialisation of teachers services though dilly dallying over the issue since 2013. Government will look into the Social Security for all teachers under New Pension Scheme within the period of six months based on the New Education Policy. It is further clarified that Teachers under Deficit Grants in Aid system, as per existing rules are recruited by Managing Committees of the respective Schools and not by the Government. Approval of the Government is required Letters to the Editor must have the full name, address and contact number of the writer, even if they are sent by email. Only letters with the requisite details will be published. only to ensure that teachers are appointed by the committees are according to the rules. District School Education Officer may take note on this matter accordingly. There are problems afflicting the system itself. The term Deficit is non connotative. The schools under Deficit Grants-in-aid receive total recurring grants against sanctioned posts without sharing from fees collected by the schools. These schools can in fact be treated as Govt. of Meghalaya undertaking. When funding is most powerful weapon for improving these schools, teachers accountability needs to be given priority.
Some schools are privileged to have more teaching staff while others have less than the required strength. Teachers’ strength need to be rationalized. There has been no inspection for long time now which is essential under the system. Most of the schools under this system cater to the needs of BPL children. Even a teacher of a school will not admit his/ her own child in the school where they teach. They prefer a private school for their own children. Most of the private schools are now mainly for APL children. Even the Office Assistant of a Deficit School somehow tries to find accommodation in a private school for his/ her own child where teachers are much less paid than teachers of a deficit school. Therefore the initiative taken by the present Commissioner & Secretary, Education is commendable but priority needs to be given to the accountability of the teachers and teachers’ Unions. Principals and Managing Committees should not only be accountable for academic performance. JACATAM totally ignored principals and MCs and perhaps this is the reason why some of the committees expressed reservations on the issue itself. There should be more working hours for teachers. At present students depend heavily on private tuitions. The five-days week may be reviewed for tutorial classes for at least on two Saturdays. Pension Scheme for all teachers is desirable. Even Govt of India Undertakings are now trying to adopt new pension schemes. But to fail to bring accountability at the centre stage would be a missed opportunity which may kindly be taken note of.
Yours etc.,
Dr SK Chattopadhyay,
Via ema