Among some of the main demands of the teachers include service regularization, discontinuation of the use of Primary teachers as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and the appointment of additional teachers at single teacher schools.
According to AGHPSTA President M Ch Marak, the issue has been raised on a number of occasions with the submission of several memorandums to the government. Marak said that a memorandum on the issue was submitted to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in 2018 and later, to Tura MP Agatha K Sangma during the association’s annual general conference at Raksamgre. Yet another memorandum was again submitted to the Chief Minister during the Covid-19 pandemic just recently where an assurance to look into the matter was also given. Marak lamented that despite the assurance being given, nothing has been done by the government.
“Teachers who are not regularized are not entitled to Assured Career Progressive Scheme (ACPS) while those categorized as non-government teachers are not only deprived of ACPS but also are not entitled for medical re-imbursement. These are only a few of the issues that the teachers faced,” Marak said.
Monday’s Sit-in dharna was attended by Primary school teachers from all corners of Garo Hlls.
Meanwhile, the association has urged the government to look into their grievances with a warning that a stronger agitation would be undertaken in the future if nothing is done to resolve their grievances.