The Meghalaya Upper Primary School Association (MUPSTA) today met minister in-charge of education Rakkam A Sangma to seek his intervention with regard to the demand for upgradation of 844 ad-hoc upper primary schools to the deficit system.
Speaking to media persons, president of MUPSTA Kenneth Shadap informed that the meeting with the education minister was to follow up with the proposal to upgrade 844 adhoc upper primary schools to the deficit system.
“The previous MDA government had invited for a proposal from 844 adhoc upper primary schools for upgradation to deficit system under vide office order memo No. EDN/172/2006/69 Dated Shillong the 7th February/2019 and DSEL/EL/GB/Misc/16/2010/Pt.1/221dated 18.03.2019 and accordingly we have discussed this issues with education minister to seek his intervention for the same” said Shadap.
Shadap informed that the amount of monthly salary that the adhoc teachers are getting now is very meagre to meet the expenses hence most of them are not able to afford to send their children for higher education.
He added that it has been about a two decade that no non-recurring grant-in-aid is being given to the adhoc schools while all the facilities like maintenance grant, infrastructure renovations, and free uniforms for students etc. etc are enjoyed by the SSA schools.
“We urged the minister in-charge to look into the matter to implement the proposed up-gradation to deficit system in order to enjoy equal pay for equal work” he added.
Shadap informed that in the meeting, they have also informed the minister that the adhoc teachers are also facing a problem with regards to the appointment in the vacancies of expired and retired teachers due to making MTET compulsory for adhoc schools.
“There are some schools of ad-hoc category that are not getting to appoint the new teacher for more than one year in the vacant post due to this reason as no MTET candidate is applying for the post. There were candidates with professional qualifications but no MTET. We therefore urged the minister to look into this matter and give relaxation for the ad-hoc schools for appointing the candidate without MTET” said Shadap.