In a recent announcement made by the Meghalaya Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, it is stated that the government has decided to raise the upper age limit of teachers from primary schools to the college level. As per the new decision, the candidates for the teachers’ position will have to be 27 to 32 years old. However, this age limit is for the general caste candidates only and in case of the ST candidates, this age limit will go up to 37 years.
The Education Minister termed this new decision of the government as a ‘big decision’ and also said that the reason behind taking this decision of raising the upper age limit is that they want the teacher candidates to be highly educated and qualified.
Rymbui said, “Now, for secondary schools, you need a bachelor degree holder along with a bachelor of education (B Ed) and for higher secondary schools, you have to be a postgraduate with B Ed degree. Many brilliant and prospective teachers join the profession after graduation and by the age of 27 years as they think that by the time they finish their PG, they will have very less year to apply for a teaching job.”
According to him, by taking this step, the government believes that it will give the eligible candidates to obtain extra qualifications for joining the teaching profession.
With this new decision of the government, 16 new lecturers are appointed in Tura and Williamnagar Government College and 13 new lecturers are appointed in Tura Government College.
A proposal to enhance the merit scholarship for students in the lower primary and upper primary level too has been put before the cabinet and the State Cabinet approved it as well.
Before this, the merit scholarship for the upper primary level was also increased and it went from Rs 40 to Rs 600 per months.