By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 6: The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) has described the state government’s new structured pay framework as a long-awaited reform addressing decades of concerns regarding compensation, service security, and retirement benefits.
The framework, approved by the state cabinet in December 2025 and notified by the Education Department in February, came into effect on April 1. According to the association, the reform directly benefits more than 23,000 SSA and ad hoc teachers across the state.
MSSASA president Aristotle C Rymbai stated that the move marks a significant structural shift in Meghalaya’s education sector. He noted that while previous governments acknowledged the unresolved issues of service conditions and job security, measures were often incremental. This new framework, he said, represents a comprehensive intervention that institutionalises compensation within a rules-based system.
Under the revised structure, monthly salaries are based on verified years of service. Lower Primary teachers will now receive between Rs 21,000 and Rs 25,000, while Upper Primary teachers will receive between Rs 24,250 and Rs 28,750. Secondary teachers will draw up to Rs 40,500, and Higher Secondary teachers will receive up to Rs 43,000. The framework also includes a three per cent annual increment.
A key feature of the policy is the introduction of a Contributory Provident Fund, where both the state government and teachers contribute eight per cent of the base pay. Rymbai highlighted that this is the first time retirement security has been formally introduced for this category of teachers.
The framework also ensures service continuity up to the age of 58 and utilises direct bank transfers to improve transparency and reduce disbursement delays.
The reform is supported by a broader expansion of the state’s education budget to nearly Rs 3,400 crore. This includes a phased Rs 2,000 crore programme for upgrading school infrastructure and a commitment of over Rs 817 crore toward teacher welfare initiatives, with an additional Rs 200 crore to be provided annually to sustain the pay structure.
Rymbai said that providing financial and retirement security will allow teachers to focus more effectively on classroom delivery. Describing the reform as a “dream turning into reality,” he added that the policy resulted from sustained dialogue between the association and the government, setting a precedent for future consultative policy-making in the sector.
