Residents from the village of Mendima in North Garo Hills today held a protest outside of the Mendima UP Deficit School over what they alleged were illegal appointment of teachers in the school, led by the headmaster, an assistant teacher and the SMC president.
Apparently, the residents have been angered over the appointments after the School Managing Committee (SMC) was overlooked in the appointment of two teachers and the appointments were forced upon them.
As per the villagers, two vacancies had opened up in the school this year following the death of one teacher and the retirement of another. An advert, seeking candidates to the said post was taken out in the month of February this year.
“The advert itself is discriminatory as it stated that male candidates would be preferred for the post. How can a teaching post be discriminated this way and how did the authorities in question allow for such discrimination? They have a lot to answer for,” said one of the protesters, Trebithson Sangma.
The advert had also mentioned preference for local candidates, something the villagers say was only on paper.
One of the candidates, Archana Momin added that there was no transparency during the process as no names of candidates who passed the exams or the interview were displayed anywhere. They only came to know once the final appointments were made.
“I fulfilled all criteria and had a great interview as well but don’t know where I stood. They were unwilling to give us details of where I stood. There has also been coercion by the headmaster, Nicotson B Sangma, as the SMC refused to sign on the candidates of their choice,” said Archana.
She further questioned the rationale behind allowing women to appear for the interview when the discrimination was already so obvious.
As per the villagers, there are a total of 12 SMC members, which includes 2 teacher representatives and the president, Gening Marak. However only 5 people signed, including the 2 teachers, including the headmaster.
“The appointments are already null and void as the quorum required for appointment has not been reached. The appointments were also made on a Sunday so we really want to know which school remains open on Sundays for official work,” asked Mecklister Sangma, another resident.
They added that they had protested against the forceful appointments by the collusion between the headmaster and the president.
“Our SMC members were even threatened into signing. We were asked to sign by the headmaster failing which we would be taken to Court. We still refused as we are against such illegal appointments,” added Mecklister.
They added that the appointment of the teachers had originally been rejected by the education authorities and only passed after political pressure.
The villagers confirmed that they have written to the DC of NGH, the DI of Schools of the district, the local MLA of Kharkutta, Rupert Momin as well as the minister of education, Lakhmen Rymbui, over the illegal appointments but are yet to get a response.
“We demand that the appointments be scrapped as it has been made illegally and fresh interviews held that are undertaken transparently. There cannot be discrimination in the process. If our demands are not met, we will continue with our protest till this reaches the right authorities and our voices are heard,” added the protestors.
“This school has been built with our sweat and blood. It is not something that can be played with. The future of our children is at stake and we cannot take a chance with that,” said the villagers.
