The All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) has raised concerns over Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG) and has recently taken up cudgels on teachers’ related issues.
Yesterday AMPSTA met with Education Minister Rakkam A.Sangma to submit a memorandum expressing our concerns regarding the proposed scheme outlined in the discussion paper on the MEG and issues affecting teachers.
“While we acknowledge and appreciate the government’s intent to improve the quality of the education system we also strongly oppose provisions that lack transparency, fairness and accountability,” AMPSTA said.
AMPSTA stated that the main concerns include unclear criteria or guidelines for performance based enhancement may create inequalities for under-resourced schools, granting full authority to SMCs or GBs without checks and accountability may lead to misuse of power.
The teachers’ association is also concerned over the delay in filling long standing teacher vacancies post and in releasing posts for Garo and Khasi language subjects, the lack of transparency in Contributed Provident Fund (CPF) deposited in the State Bank of India, Laitumkhrah Branch and back to back government notification orders without instructions.
According to the AMPSTA one of the most pressing issues highlighted in its memorandum is “continuity” for deficit teachers that posts held by current deficit teachers will not be affected but after retirement the post will be transferred under MEG raising concerns about the continuity of these posts and the job security of future teachers.
According to the AMPSTA the Education Minister clarified that if the School Management hands over all assets to the government, the sanctioned posts will be converted into government posts and the teachers will become government employees.
However, if the management does not hand over all assets, the existing teachers will continue to receive salaries as a deficit but after their retirement the post will be transferred under MEG.
“This has raised serious concerns for the association where we firmly urge the government to issue clear and formal directives ensuring job security and continuity of service for all deficit teachers both current and future,” the AMPSTA stated.
The AMPSTA has also strongly opposed any proposal to abolish the sanctioned posts.
“Rather than phasing out these posts we call on the government to retain and fill them as deficit posts,” it added.
Given these concerns, the AMPSTA has urged the government to, provide clear and transparent guidelines detailing the criteria for performance based funding, improve accountability measures to regulate the authority of SMCs or GBs and prevent misuse of powers
The AMPSTA also wants to ensure safeguards to protect the rights and job security of deficit teachers.
AMPSTA also discussed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Education Department and Mother’s Union, Tura where they expressed their concern and strong disagreement in which the Education Minister informed that the government has taken hold on this matter and will wait for the Chief Minister’s decision before proceeding with further discussions.
AMPSTA has urged the government not to overlook the grassroot realities of the schools and teachers.
“Policies made without ground level consultation will only lead to further complications. We are not against reforms, however they must be properly consulted and the rights of teachers must be protected,” it added.
