TURA: Primary teachers under the aegis of the All Garo Hills Primary School Teachers’ Association (AGHPSTA), have passed a string of resolutions including the demand for eave salary in line with employees of other government departments.
The AGHPSTA which held its 41st annual general conference at Dadenggre town of West Garo Hills on the 7th and 8th of this month witnessed the participation of over a thousand primary teacher delegates representing 12 zones in Garo Hills.
During the conference delegates demanded that the government should provide the primary teachers with leave salary since the same is provided to other government employees in various other departments.
The association also called on the government to release the advance increment for graduate teachers working in the primary section without any pre-conditions.
Another critical problem facing primary schools has been the maintaining of current accounts in banks which has led to schools being unable to withdraw government allotted funds completely. The association is demanding that the old system of Savings Accounts be reintroduced.
Improvement of school syllabus, ensuring the delivery to the school premises of the Mid-Day Meal allotment were other demands passed in the resolution by the delegates at the conference.
Controversy surrounding the Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) course that was raised by many of the members present at the conference was clarified by the AGHPSTA president Jalan G Momin.
Momin cleared the matter by informing the delegates that teachers appointed before September 3rd, 2001 need not take the course as per the NCTE norms and other guidelines
