Teachers blame govt for strikes

SHILLONG: Frequent agitations by the teaching fraternity have affected student’s learning in the State and teachers have pointed out that it is the State government’s lack of response to their demands that has forced them to take to the streets.
“In our State, we have noticed that rallies/agitations are frequent. We have suggested to the government to avoid any confrontation because we don’t want teachers to go to the streets to demand their rights,” Chairman of 4th Teachers’ Committee H.M Marbaniang told this reporter.
He added that the government should implement reasonable pay to steer teachers from protesting on the streets. “Teachers are different and nobody will want to agitate if they are given their rights,” he said.
When asked whether the education system in the State is deteriorating, he said, “Yes and this is due to the State government that has many  categories of teachers. This has created a gap in their rights.”
Replying to a query on the education policy, Marbaniang observed that it posed a danger to the government in the absence of a State education policy.
Referring to the absence of an education policy he said it is synonymous with the NGT ban that has led to the closure of rat-hole mining.
“The Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) has stated that state governments that have not framed an education policy will not receive funds from the Ministry.”
The State government had earlier said it would wait for the Centre to launch a new policy before announcing its education policy in line with the national one and hence the delay.
There has been a growing demand from NGOs and teachers’ bodies for an education policy at the earliest.