Shillong, Sep 27: The sit-in-demonstration of the Federation of All School Teachers Association of Meghalaya (FASTOM) entered its sixth day on Saturday as agitating teachers are waiting for a response from Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
FASTOM vice-president Sanborn Jungai said that the teachers want the Chief Minister to decide, in writing, from which month the ad-hoc teachers will be upgraded to the deficit system.
“We are not demanding from him that he should do it immediately, it can be from January 1 or March 1 (2026),” Jungai said. He also expressed his concern that all categories of teachers have to hit the streets to get their demands fulfilled.
According to Jungai all representatives when they are in the opposition, they have a different voice but when they rule the state their mindset changes.
“We as teachers we feel distressed since the current leaders who were in the opposition were vocal against the government but now the question is, what they are doing for education,” the FASTOM leader said.
He said that there are (financial) experts sitting in the state secretariat from where funds can be generated to pay to these teachers. If the government wants, ways and means can be explored for the purpose, he added.
Jungai urged the state government to do more for the education sector since this is the only area the government as well as the parents can give to the present and the future generation.
He hoped that the Chief Minister takes up the issue and take a decision to settle their pending grievances. He also said that even as the teachers are on the sit-in-demonstration classes in the various schools are functioning smoothly since, they are taking part in the agitation on rotation basis.
Meanwhile, North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum who visited the agitating teachers said he was concerned that they have shaped the lives of even the legislators – including him and other professionals.
Nongrum stated that according to the Performance Grading Index (PGI) of the centre, Meghalaya in the education sector is in the lowest category.
He urged the government to look into the grievances of the agitating teachers adding that their demands are genuine.
“How can the government say that it does not have funds. The ad-hoc teachers should get the facilities and allowances,” the North Shillong MLA stated.
Nongrum slammed the government and said it should avoid unnecessary expenditures like for assembly committees and festivals.
“We have to given special focus on the teachers because seeing the devaluation of the society due to the education system,” he added.
Nongrum urged the Chief Minister to call the FASTOM for a discussion or at least send a written assurance.
