Seven contractual teachers who cleared the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) at the second attempt have demanded that the state government reinstate them by January 18.
The issue of contractual teachers who lost their jobs because they had not cleared the MTET was a constant fixture of 2022.
Teachers Laljoy Darnei, Thlamuana Darnei, Mary Jone Ngamlai, Lalchonpari Theite, Samiran Rishi, Phikirbha Khariah and Arbihlang Suchiang addressed the media today.
Khariah, who has worked as a contractual teacher for about 15 years, said that a High Court order on October 28, 2022 gave them relief and stated that they are eligible to be appointed as teachers.
“We waited for about a month and thought that within a week or two the government will send us the appointment order but, to date, there is no sign of such steps taken. We have also approached the respective Sub District Education Officers and sent a letter to the Director of Education for the appointment of the seven teachers but to no avail,” she said, adding that they have also written to the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and Education Minister in this regard.
The High Court had directed the state government to accord due consideration to allow the seven teachers to participate in any further selection for the post of assistant teacher since they have passed MTET examination.
With the coming into force of the NCTE norms from August 23, 2010, only those teachers who fulfilled the MTET were to be considered eligible for appointment as assistant teachers in lower and upper primary schools, which these seven possess.
