SHILLONG: The teachers from Garo Hills under the regional unit of the All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association have said they would not take part in the scheduled indefinite strike from April 18 called by another body in the city.
The Meghalaya SSA School Association has called the strike after the State Government failed to fulfil its demands by March 31. In a statement on Saturday, the publicity secretary of the Tura-based Garo Hills teachers’ body said the teachers in the region are fighting in a constitutional manner and will never resort to an illegal movement.
“We are concerned about our students’ future and thus will not encourage the indefinite strike,” the statement said. The move comes after Education and Literacy Minister Deborah Marak and education official Ambrose Marak promised to fulfil their demands soon without any categorisation of teachers.
The pattern will be salary of Rs 19,044 per month for lower primary teachers, Rs 20,493 per month for upper primary teachers and the same salary for 4th teachers at both levels.
“As assured, we are expecting our new revised salary as approved by SSA, Project Approval Board (2016-17) at the earliest,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) has sought support from the managing committee of schools run by the mission and private schools that receive aid from SSA schemes over their call for an indefinite strike from April 18.
Attempting to give impetus to their demand, H.M. Marbaniang, general secretary of the association in a statement to the press, said the 12,481 SSA teachers are demanding a revised pay and arrears and salary enhancement for 1,521 4th teachers whose salary was the same since 2013.
He added that teachers from more than 5,000 SSA schools will continue their strike till the State Government gives an assurance in writing and fulfils the SSA teachers’ demands.
Another demand of the teachers is to resolve the National Institute of Open Schooling disorder arising out of the delay in declaring corrected results of 7,822 teachers who have completed their Diploma in Elementary Education.
Alleging that the Government is indifferent to their demands, Marbaniang said it will have to take the responsibility if students are affected.