SHILLONG, March 17: Congress, on Wednesday, pitched for enhancement of salaries of ad hoc teachers in state but the Meghalaya government gave the Opposition party a wide berth while maintaining that the matter is under examination — a reiteration of what the government had to say about the SSA teachers’ demand for increasing their salaries, earlier.
Mawsynram MLA and Congress legislator, HM Shangpliang, had raised a supplementary question on the salary paid to the ad hoc teachers of upper primary and lower primary schools during the Question Hour of the Assembly here on Wednesday.
He enquired whether the headmaster and the teachers of the UP and LP government-aided ad hoc schools draw the same salary.
In reply to the query, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that for upper primary the scale is different, but it is same for lower primary schools.
Dwelling on the intricacies of it and the hardships faced by the teachers, Mawsynram MLA Shangpliang requested the education minister to consider enhancing the salary.
Rymbui, while asserting that the government is equally concerned, stated that the issue of enhancing their salaries is being examined.
On the day, it was discerned in the House that a LP school teacher draws monthly salary of Rs 12,000 at present whereas headmaster of a UP school draws Rs 18,000 per month, an assistant teacher Rs 16,000 and with regard to ad hoc secondary schools, the monthly salary of a teacher is Rs 20,000, applicable across all districts.
Further, Meghalaya houses a total of 1,225 LP schools, 844 UP schools and 386 secondary schools, besides 2,450 teachers in the lower primary section, 3,376 in UP and 2,139 teachers in secondary schools.
Rangsakona MLA, Zenith Sangma, also enquired whether the government intends to provide ad hoc grants to these schools.
To this, the education minister replied, “There are two issues here. First, how to increase the salary as representatives of the teaching community are also meeting us often to deliberate on the matter; and second, providing ad hoc grant”.
Rymbui made it clear that the state government will first have to first take stock of its priorities and then if the financial position is comfortable, the administration will look into it.
Informing that the department coughs up around Rs 181 crore to dole out salaries to ad-hoc school teachers, the minister said that an additional amount of Rs 251 crore will be required to bring the salary structures of ad hoc school teachers on a par with the government teachers.
Rymbui said that it is the endeavour of the government to fulfil the responsibility as and when the financial scenario of the state looks comfortable.
NCP legislator from Gambegre, Saleng Sangma, had also queried whether a study is being undertaken or if there is any future plan of action on part of the government to diagnose and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the department, even as he brought to the notice of the House that the poor and needy go to ad hoc schools while well off section of the public opt for private schools.
Rymbui, in response to the MLA’s query, said, “Plan of action is always there, but we need major investment on occasions while only complaints are heard over the bad quality of education in government schools.”
SSA 4th teachers
Rymbui also informed that the proposal for enhancement of the salaries of 1,521 SSA 4th teachers from Rs 12,000 per month is under consideration.
Replying to a call attention motion moved by HM Shangpliang, Rymbui said as per the Samagra Siksha Abhiyan, it can support only two lower primary and three upper primary SSA teachers, while appointment of any additional teacher has to be borne by the government.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Shangpliang stressed on equal pay for equal work.