SHILLONG, Dec 16: Reaffirming its commitment to advocating for a policy that secures the future of SSA teachers in Meghalaya, the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) has resolved to continue its negotiations with the state government on the said policy to ensure job security for SSA teachers. This decision was taken during its general meeting held at Students’ Field, Jaiaw, on Monday.
The MSSASA also resolved to urge the state government to constitute an Empowered Committee to facilitate further discussions on the issue and to formulate a comprehensive policy addressing job security concerns.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai emphasised that the Empowered Committee should include officials from the Law, Personnel, and Education departments, along with representatives from SSA teachers’ associations.
Rymbai further stated that the association has requested the state government to exempt all SSA teachers who joined on or before July 1, 2020, from clearing the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET). He explained that this request is based on a government notification issued on July 1, 2020, which made MTET qualifications mandatory for teachers from that date onward.
The MSSASA president also announced that a third round of discussions with the state government is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 am.
Earlier, while addressing the SSA teachers, Rymbai shared that in a meeting chaired by Vijay Kumar Mantri, Commissioner and Secretary of the Education department, the association had requested the inclusion of all SSA teachers’ associations, including the All Meghalaya SSA Schools Association and the All Meghalaya Fourth Teachers Association, in policy discussions.
He revealed that the MSSASA had submitted an eight-point charter of demands to be incorporated into the policy for SSA teachers’ job security.
Rymbai also referred to a letter from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) dated March 31, 2021, which informed all states and union territories that financial support for the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme would continue from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026. However, another letter from the CCEA on August 16, 2021, clarified that the SSA scheme’s extension would be limited to five years. This is why the MSSASA is pressuring the government to introduce a policy urgently, as they have very limited time with the SSA scheme set to end by March 31, 2026.
The MSSASA president also demanded the inclusion of a pay structure and salary enhancements in the proposed policy, adding that they are committed to ensuring the welfare of SSA teachers without giving false hope or misleading anyone. He highlighted that the association has submitted a 102-page memorandum outlining all the points needed to protect SSA teachers’ interests and welfare.
Rymbai further pointed out the absence of rules regarding the retirement age for SSA teachers, which currently allows them to teach indefinitely. Moreover, he highlighted the lack of essential benefits for SSA teachers, such as maternity leave, medical reimbursements, and access to bank loans.
The association has urged the government to prepare a blueprint to address their various demands. Rymbai also informed that the State Cabinet, on October 23, approved a proposal to relax the age limit for applying to government teaching posts from 37 years to 45 years. A notification on this relaxation was issued on December 11.
The MSSASA has requested that 70% of government teaching posts be reserved for SSA teachers, with the remaining 30% filled through direct recruitment. Rymbai acknowledged the challenge of extending similar benefits to all 12,551 SSA teachers due to their large numbers.
To address this, the association proposed categorising SSA teachers based on their qualifications and appointment periods. These categories include teachers qualified under MTET in 2019, 2021, and 2023; teachers appointed between September 3, 2001, and August 23, 2010; teachers appointed after the MCTA notification on August 23, 2010, who meet academic and professional qualifications but have yet to clear MTET; and teachers appointed after the MCTA notification who lack the required qualifications and have not cleared MTET.
‘Govt exploring all aspects of teachers’
On the sidelines, Education Minister Rakkam Sangma on Monday said the State Education Committee is examining all aspects of teachers, including those of SSA teachers.
The minister said that the Committee is compiling its suggestions and recommendations, which will be submitted to the state government.
Sangma admitted that regularising the services of different communities of teachers will be a significant burden. However, he said the State Education Committee is exploring all aspects and options to resolve the issues of the teachers.
