SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government won’t be regularising 12,541 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers due to financial constraints.
Conveying the government’s struggle to regularise the services of the teachers, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma said that it would be a “financial burden” for the government as their regularisation would require additional funds of Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore for it.
“If the government decides to regularise, they (teachers) will demand the same scale of pay as government teachers are currently receiving. Therefore, it will be a considerable burden for the state, lacking its own revenue resources,” Sangma told the press.
The Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) has recently reiterated its demand for the creation of posts and the transfer of existing SSA teachers from the State Implementing Society to the State Education Department on a regular basis, in accordance with the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) and SSA norms.
“The government is exploring all possibilities, awaiting recommendations from the state education commission. We are also seeking ways to address not only SSA issues but also those of ad hoc teachers,” Sangma further added.
Regarding the creation of district cadres, Sangma clarified that teachers absorbed into these cadres would not receive a pay scale increment but would be officially recognised.
Sangma also highlighted the complexity of the situation, noting that teachers are currently appointed by school managing committees (SMCs) and not directly by the government.
He mentioned potential challenges in taking over such appointments, especially in schools operated by religious institutions receiving SSA funds.
With the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP), Sangma stressed on the government’s focus on finding suitable solutions, including considering options like direct recruitment and departmental absorption from the SSA based on qualification and criteria set by the Ministry of Education.
“Ultimately, our decision will prioritise the interests of every teacher in the state,” Sangma concluded.
