Shillong, Sept 22: Ad hoc school teachers protested on Monday, demanding an upgrade to the deficit system.
The protest march and sit-in were under the banner of -Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM).
Besides the upgradation of adhoc schools and teachers to the deficit system, other demands are better pay and benefits for adhoc teachers, 5% annual increment, and extension of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, a reminder of which was submitted to former education minister Rakkam A Sangma on March 17, 2023.
The salaries of adhoc teachers currently range from Rs 18,000 for lower primary, Rs 22,000 for upper primary, Rs 29,000 for secondary, Rs 31,000 for science teachers and Rs 33,000 for higher secondary.
FASTOM Vice President S Jungai told reporters that the ad hoc schools and teachers should be upgraded to the deficit system, which would enhance their pay scale and benefits.
The organisation wanted the government to come up with a policy to do away with the ad hoc system, and to ensure that their salary is enhanced as was done for other teachers.
According to Jungai, ad hoc teachers have the same qualifications as other teachers but are paid significantly less, with a huge disparity in the pay scale.
He said the state government has cited financial constraints as a reason for delaying the implementation of FASTOM’s demands.
Jungai is also disappointed with the state education commission, as it failed to make recommendations on enhancing the salaries of ad hoc school teachers.
“If the government can address their issues within a day or two, it is well and good, but if not, they will take other courses of action,” Jungai added.
