SHILLONG: Leader of the Opposition, Mukul Sangma, has urged the state government to fill up vacancies for the post of teachers in lower primary schools, which have become completely defunct, so that the academic session of the affected schools can resume immediately.
Sangma said that representatives of different school managing committees told him that till date beginning this academic year, no teachers have reported in many of the schools, resulting in great confusion amongst the parents and the villagers as a whole.
He informed that after speaking to the Director of Elementary and Mass Education & Literacy to find out the reason for the issue, he was informed that a state government direction said that no appointment on ad hoc basis should be done by the department to fill up the existing vacancies since the government intends to fill them up only after Meghalaya Teachers’ Eligibility Test (MTET) results are declared.
“I seek your immediate attention and action on this matter as it relates to our commitment and our obligations and responsibilities, thereof to fulfill the provision of Article 21A of the Constitution of India and the resultant legislation-RTE Act 2009 in the best interest of our children coming from poor and vulnerable families in particular and all our beloved children and future generations in general,” the state Congress leader said.
Concern over govt’s stand on contractual teachers
Meanwhile, North Garo Hills (NGH) District Youth Congress has expressed concern over the statement of Education Minister, Lahkem Rymbui, who said that no contractual appointments will be made and that he is against the extension of service of contractual teachers.
In a statement issued here, General Secretary, NGH District Youth Congress, Sengbath Marak, questioned as to what is the alternative for these assistant teachers, who have taught for 10-15 years without being regularised by the government.
Stating that these over-aged teachers will become jobless if they do not clear MTET, he said that out of 3,540 government schools and 202 private-aided schools, 50 per cent are contractual teachers.
The NGH District Youth Congress wants Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to make special considerations before executing such steps.
