By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 20: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has welcomed the state government’s decision to postpone the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) examination scheduled for May 29.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party said many teachers were already burdened with classroom duties, census-related assignments and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work, and urged the government to announce a fresh examination date at the earliest to avoid uncertainty among candidates.
The VPP also stressed that while Meghalaya must comply with national norms relating to D.El.Ed and MTET qualifications, the government should protect the interests and livelihoods of long-serving teachers, particularly those who entered the profession when such qualifications were either unavailable or not mandatory. The party said many teachers serving in difficult and remote areas had contributed significantly to the state’s education sector and should not be penalised for systemic shortcomings beyond their control.
The VPP also questioned what it termed inconsistencies in the government’s approach towards implementing court rulings and directives. It alleged that while the government appeared eager to enforce directives related to teacher qualifications, it had not shown similar urgency in implementing court rulings concerning teachers’ welfare and financial entitlements. The VPP referred to issues such as allowances for deficit college teachers, pensions for grant-in-aid teachers and the implementation of UGC pay scales for college teachers, claiming that these matters continued to face delays despite legal directives.
