Ardent Basaiawmoit’s Voice of the People Party (VPP) has urged the state government to withdraw its recent direction that bars teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels from political activities.
A VPP delegation led by Basaiawmoit met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma here today to discuss the issue.
The recent Education Department notification instructed all Deputy Commissioners, schools and others concerned that teachers, lecturers and professors are barred from holding office in political organisations or local bodies.
Speaking to the media after meeting Sangma, Basaiawmoit said that he had reminded the CM about the far-reaching contributions by Meghalaya academics, including Prof GG Swell, who was key to establishing North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong, and Prof MN Majaw, who brought about the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act 1971.
The VPP’s case also included reference to the University Grants Commission, which, it said, does not bar professors and lecturers from political activity.
“This irrational, unconstitutional and discriminatory notification must be withdrawn immediately,” Basaiawmoit said, adding that the CM promised the VPP delegation that the government will take another look at the notice.
“Preventing intellectuals and educated people who can contribute immensely to the state is unfortunate. The government should instead encourage teachers to actively participate in politics because we need intellectual people to govern the state. We need people with vision and vast knowledge and we can get such people from the teaching fraternity,” he added.
Bizarrely, the VPP claimed that one of the reasons the government might have issued such a notice in the first place was because it feared that the nascent VPP was drawing in plenty of support from academic circles.
