Teachers on warpath, announced stir

SHILLONG, AUG 21:  College and school teachers under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM) in Meghalaya are on the warpath with the Meghalaya deputy chief minister Roytre Christopher Laloo for the latter’s continued refusal to meet them to discuss teachers’ issues.

Miffed over the insensitivity of Laloo, who holds the education portfolio, toward their cause the teachers have announced a series of agitations starting from August 27.

The JACATAM, comprising of 10 school and college teachers associations, are not only surprised at Laloo’s refusal to meet them but also felt insulted when he refused to discussed issues relating to his department.

JACATAM president ED Nongsiang said, “Although we have been trying to meet the deputy chief minister, but till date he has refused to meet us. Instead, he asked us to meet with his officers, who, in fact, cannot take decisions on policy matters,” said.

On August 27 the teachers will be wearing black badges followed by a pen-down strike on August 29.

Teachers will be taking a mass casual leave on September 3 to be immediately followed by a dharna on the following date. On September 5, which also happens to be teachers’ day, the teachers will hold a public rally in Shillong.

After the first phase of agitations, the teachers will announce their second phase of programmes on teachers’ day itself.

Nongsiang informed that some of the issues the teachers had desired to talk with Laloo relates to the education policy, reformation of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE), regular payment of salary to teachers, and provincialisation of teachers’ service.

The association is of the deficit, adhoc schools and colleges teachers in the state. – By Our Reporter