Contractual school teachers on a protest to demand reinstatement withdrew their agitation today after the State government assured age condonation for them to reappear in the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET).
The decision was taken following a meeting with Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui.
Meghalaya Government Lower Primary Contractual Teachers’ Association (MGLPCTA) Birbor Riangtem announced the withdrawal of the month-long sit-in in front of the state secretariat.
“We were informed by our lawyers today that the Supreme Court has directed the state government to allow us to appear for the MTET exams. Ringtem is however yet to receive the copy of the order.
Earlier in the day Riangtem’s meeting with the minister Rymbui was deadlocked as he rejected outright the contractual teachers’ demand to reinstate them without the mandatory MTET qualification.
He was seen emerging from the minister’s room sobbing and announced that the agitators will fast unto death.
Rymbui told reporters that regularisation of their services is not considered but they are granted only one-time age condonation to appear for MTET.
He said a judgment passed by the Meghalaya High Court had stated that the “contractual teachers have no rights for regularisation”.
