Shillong, Sep 23: Teachers under the banner of the Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) on Tuesday decided to continue with their indefinite sit-in demonstration after the government could not promise if its demand for the upgrade of all ad hoc schools to the deficit system will be met.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui held a meeting with a delegation of the teachers, who had been protesting since September 22.
FASTOM vice-president Sanborn Jungai told reporters that the Education Minister informed the delegation that in the coming weeks the department will discuss how to rationalize the different categories of schools in the state.
“The Education Minister told us that he cannot give us an assurance to upgrade the ad-hoc category of teachers,” Jungai said.
FASTOM is demanding that they be upgraded to a deficit system or deficit pattern. He said that the government will give a final decision only after meeting all the categories of teachers and school managing committees, individuals and political parties.
He said that the association is firm on its stand that the government should solve their problems once and for all.
Jungai also said that the delegation urged the Education Minister to enlighten the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on their demands since in the end the ad-hoc teachers understand that if he takes up the matter the issue will be solved.
