SHILONG: The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) has demanded that the government release their arrears and salaries at the earliest.
In a statement submitted on Tuesday addressed to Education Secretary WR Lyngdoh and State Project Director (SPD) of SSA Ambrose Ch Marak, MSSASA alleged that despite the Centre releasing money for 2016-17, the eight months’ arrears and two months’ salary of SSA teachers from July 2016 are pending.
MSSASA also blamed the Ministry of Human Resource Development for failing to transfer the sanctioned budget under SSA to the state as per scheduled date.
“As per SSA-RTE framework and Project Approval Board (PAB) Minutes the scheduled date for released of funds under SSA was in two installments, the Ad hoc Installment was to be released in the month of April, 1st Installment was to be released in June and the 2nd Installment is to be released in November after submission of audit report by states/UTs’ government,” the statement said adding that the delay has led to several problems for teachers.
MSSASA central body president Aristotle C Rymbai explained that due to irregular transfer of salary and pending arrears, most of the SSA teachers had to borrow money from other sources to pay the course fees to get enrolled for D.El.Ed programme of NIOS which has made mandatory for all in-service untrained teachers teaching at elementary level (class I-VIII) to enroll themselves for the professional training on or before September 30 as per notification issued by MHRD on August 3 and the Education Department on August 10 apart from paying fees, bills and daily requirements.
The association has requested the Education Department to address the matter and clear the dues on or before October 20.
