MLAs raise education-related issues during Budget Session
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 17: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday clarified that the government has introduced a “structured pay framework” not a “full salary structure” for ad hoc and grant-in-aid schools.
Intervening during a discussion in the Assembly, he explained that these institutions are not government-owned but are run by private, community or mission groups, with the state providing financial grants rather than taking over ownership.
The chief minister stepped in after Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui faced a series of questions from both ruling and Opposition MLAs regarding delays in teachers’ salaries and pay disparities on the second day of the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
The issue was initially raised during Question Hour by TMC MLA Mizanur Kazi, who pointed to the delays, while others highlighted the significant gap in pay between different categories of teachers.
Responding to these concerns, the chief minister noted that there had been confusion regarding the government’s role.
“We are not taking over the schools. We are addressing the long-standing demands of teachers by providing a structured pay system with annual increments,” he said.
He further detailed the scale of the challenge, noting that Meghalaya has around 55,000 teachers in approximately 14,000 schools.
Previously, the government spent around Rs 600 crore annually on SSA and ad hoc teachers in LP and UP categories. Under the new framework, this figure is projected to rise to over Rs 800 crore. “This is a big financial decision, but it is a step in the right direction. It will provide stability and annual increments of three per cent,” he added, stating that around 23,000 teachers would benefit.
Earlier in the session, the education minister informed the House that while there is no delay in paying government schoolteachers. However, he admitted that those in other categories have faced pay delay issues, with salaries paid up to December 2025.
To rectify this, Rymbui added, the government has launched the Meghalaya School Information Management System (MEGHSIMS). This online system will enable schools to submit salary proposals digitally rather than via hard copies, aiming to speed up the process and identify bottlenecks.
Rymbui also denied allegations that funds for ad hoc and grant-in-aid teachers had been diverted.
With regard to the pay revision, he confirmed that the Cabinet approved the structured framework on December 19, 2025, which will come into effect from April 1, 2026. This move intends to reduce pay differences among categories such as SSA, LP, UP, RMSA, ad hoc, and deficit teachers.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Mukul M Sangma raised concerns about these disparities, particularly in community-run schools that later became grant-in-aid or deficit institutions. He suggested converting deficit schools into full government schools to ensure better retirement benefits.
On the other hand, Sohiong MLA Synshar Thabah asked if a separate salary head existed, citing the impact of delays on morale, while North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum questioned why protests were often necessary to secure timely pay.
Rymbui maintained that the new online system would improve monitoring and solve these issues. Responding to UDP MLA Renikton L Tongkhar’s query, the education minister assured the House that the new payment structure does not contradict the proposed Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG) framework, as the government had consulted various schools and community stakeholders before arriving at the decision.
