Shillong, Aug 3: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday expressed his inability to help the agitating government LP contractual teachers.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Rymbui said the state government cannot change its policy regarding appointme6nt of teachers.
The non-renewal of contractual appointment led to the contractual teachers under the banner of the Meghalaya Lower Primary School Contractual Association (MLPSCA) resorting to strike.
The government followed the appointment of contractual teachers for 59 days with renewal since 2011.
Later in 2017, the government decided to conduct the Meghalaya Teachers Eligibility Test (MTET) for appointment of teachers as per the NCTE norms.
Following this, the contractual teachers had met the education minister in 2018–2019.
“But our stand is very clear that the policy which has been there, we cannot change that,” Rymbui said.
However, the government had assured to take care of the concern expressed by the contractual teachers on the age issue.
“The education department was the first to move the government to extend the age limit from 32 years to 37 years for Schedule Tribe (ST) candidates. Not only that, we also have provisions to give more years for those who are already in service till 40 years,” he said.
Many MTET cleared teachers were given regular appointments, he said.
“Accordingly, as recommended by the DSC or MPSC, those candidates got the job and those who are in contractual or officiating positions, their appointments had to be revoked,” he said.
Stating that the government could do whatever it can, the education minister said beyond this, the government is not able to do anything.
Rymbui admitted that the appointment to fill up the vacant posts was supposed to be completed in April, but the government could not proceed due to the order on roster system passed by the High Court.
“So we have to go back to the drawing board and we hope that in the short possible time we are able to complete and we will be able to float advertisements and regular appointments can be done,” he said.
On the issue of absence of teachers in many schools due to this delay, the minister said, “It is a complex issue. We cannot just turn the clock back. We have to move forward and I hope this temporary issue will be sorted out in the shortest possible time.”
