‘No prior appointment needed’

KSU extends support to JACATAM

SHILLONG: Reiterating that his doors are always open for talks, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Education Prof RC Laloo has said the agitating teachers are free to meet him anytime without any prior appointment.

“The only thing is that they have to confirm if I am there in my office from my personal secretary,” Prof Laloo said here on Thursday.

Informing that he is going meet the members of the All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) on September 30, he said he was ready to meet the members of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Association of Meghalaya (JACATAM) to discuss their problems.

“I am really surprised to hear the allegation that I am unwilling to meet people. There is nothing except the curtain at the entrance of my office chamber. Therefore, anyone is free to drop in,” Prof Laloo said.

The teachers have been agitating since August 21 seeking an audience with Prof Laloo to discuss reforms in the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE), regular payment of salaries to teachers and provincialisation of schools.

On provincialisation of teachers’ service, Prof Laloo said “This demand requires a thorough examination.”

“The Planning, Finance, Personnel and other concerned departments need to examine the matter from all aspects. It is not an easy task for government,” he said adding that provincialisation of services of teachers cannot take place without the provincialisation of schools.

“I feel that the teachers also need to be realistic with their demands,” Deputy Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the three-day strike of teachers, which begun from September 11, would conclude on Friday. All the members of JACATAM will meet on Friday to decide their future course of action.

KSU support: The ongoing agitation of teaching community received a boost when the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) extended its support to JACATAM

Extending its support to JACATAM, the KSU Education Cell on Thursday demanded the State Government to address the grievances of the teaching community while questioning the insensitivity of government towards the cause of the teachers.

“The series of agitations will affect the students to a great extent as many of them are being left unattended especially during the time when the exams are knocking at the doors,” secretary of KSU education cell Donald Thabah said adding that this would jeopardize the careers of students greatly.

The KSU demanded the State government to invite the agitating teachers for talks to resolve the matter while asking the government to enact the Right to Education Act (RTE) at the earliest.