Schools in Meghalaya have to make alternative arrangements as the strike by deficit teachers has badly affected the normal functioning of classes.
The deficit teachers have taken mass casual leave for three days to protest against the Meghalaya’s government non-acceptance of their demands and this has left many schools without any teachers.
The teachers want the state government to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission with regards to the deficit school teachers, like pensions, retirement benefits and death gratuity.
Informing that about 15 deficit teachers at Mawkhar Christian Higher Secondary School are on strike, the Principal, AH Nongbet, told Highland Post that substitute teachers have been brought on to fill in, especially in Class 10.
“Once normal classes start this strike by the deficit school teachers will adversely affect the smooth functioning of the school and I think the state government should invite them for talks and resolve the problem through dialogue,” he said.
Informing that the school will also be the centre for the conduct of the Diploma in Elementary Education exams, Nongbet said that if the strike is prolonged it will affect everyone, including all the scheduled examinations that will also affect the government.
The principal of Synod Higher Secondary School, Shillong, S Tongper also said that the strike by deficit teachers has affected the school, especially Classes 6-10.
“There are 15 deficit teachers from our school that are on strike and most affected are students of Class 10 but we are coping somehow and engaging teachers,” Tongper said.
Meanwhile, President of the Khasi Jaiñtia Deficit School Teachers Association (KJDSTA), Babu Kular Khongjirem, today said that the mass leave protest was 100 percent successful today as well.
