Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma today informed that the government is working out modalities on how to solve the problem and demands of the SSA teachers.
Acknowledging that their demand for regularisation and pay hikes are genuine, Sangma stated that earlier the salary component is 90:10, with the major share paid for by the central government.
“Now we are raising 5 per cent every year for the salary of the SSA teachers and now it is 70:30 and next year it will be 65:35,” he said today. However, although the state is paying more, the central government is cutting its share by the same amount, so the salaries are not going up, the minister added. SSA teachers are on the verge of striking. They last had a pay rise in 2016 and two associations of teachers have threatened to stop work at the end of the month if they do not receive an enhancement of 100 percent.
Sangma also said that the department will send officials to understand the issues of every school in each and every corner of Meghalaya.
“There are many schools with zero nrolment, schools with teachers abstaining from work, schools with proxy teachers, schools with single teachers, schools without a building, many schools with more teachers and fewer students – we will send the committee to collect details. We are also working out modalities on how to absorb the SSA teachers, ad hoc and others (into full-fledged state employment)…because we understand the challenges that are there,” Sangma said, adding that the department has details about zero nrolment schools, proxy and absent teachers, etc.
Those teachers who are not interested in doing their work should opt for another profession, he stated bluntly.
Sangma added that the committee has already completed the first phase survey but it needs another round of reassessment.
Meanwhile, Sangma also urged teachers to shoulder more responsibility for the poor performance of students, with Meghalaya having one of the highest dropout rates and sub-par national ranking.
“Meghalaya has one of the highest dropout rates in the country and teachers should shoulder responsibility; it directly connects with the performance of our teachers,” the minister said. “The ranking of our education system, especially in lower primary, is not up to the mark, so I encourage them (teachers) to focus on their duties and give quality teaching.”
The first phase survey has already led to a decline in the dropout rate, while enrolment has increased, he claimed.
