SHILLONG: While schools and colleges across the state are preparing for Teachers’ Day on September 5 to give thanks to teachers for their contribution to the society, the SSA teachers are being neglected by the government, said the president of Meghalaya SSA School Association Aristotle C Rymbai.
12541 elementary teachers under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (now known as Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) who are working over 5000 lower and upper primary SSA-supported schools across the state are yet to get their dues for the last five months from April to August by the government, Rymbai informed.
‘While the state government will observe September 5 to honour their contribution to the society for imparting quality education, it is also the duty of the state to ensure that the teachers who are entrusted with the task of delivering the quality education are taken care of,’ the association president said.
Rymbai, who is also one of the aggrieved teachers, said the 12541 teachers were appointed on a contract basis and are poorly paid as compared to teachers who are appointed as regulars. Moreover, promising career prospects, which is a motivation booster, is almost nil for SSA teachers in the state, he said while adding that the teachers are not even entitled to any leave and others benefits enjoyed by regular teachers except for 15 days casual leave annually.
Teachers play a vital role when it comes to achieving the goal of quality education, and as such, they must be treated as ‘respected professionals’, Rynbai said. School leaders, government, education systems and public authorities must take note of their plight, he added.
“Our education system will be able to deliver only when government starts taking care of teachers. Partial implementation of rules or implementation of rules that does not reflect the spirit of quality education defeats the entire purpose,” he added. .
