FAMASTA urges CM to upgrade adhoc schools

A Reporter

SHILLONG, June 7: A delegation of the Federation of All Meghalaya Adhoc Secondary Teachers association (FAMASTA) on Thursday requested the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to upgrade the adhoc school teachers of the state to deficit pattern.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting the Chief Minister, FAMASTA president B, Kharumnuid informed that the association has requested the Chief Minister to fructify their demand at the earliest.

She said the Chief Minister has assured the delegation that their demand will be looked into and will also be taken up with the education department.

In the memorandum, the association pointed out that in the past the government of Meghalaya used to bring a number of adhoc grant-in aid schools to deficit system. During the tenure of Late PA Sangma as Chief Minister, 60 adhoc schools were brought under deficit system. Later in 1991, the then government under Late BB Lyngdoh abolished the system and kept the matter in abeyance.

According to the memorandum, the adhoc teachers at present are receiving Rs 20, 000 per month per head which the association termed as unjustified compared to the salary of the deficit school teachers.

The teacher association also requested the government to eliminate discrepancy between adhoc and deficit school teachers. “We demand equal pay for equal work and expect that soon all adhoc schools will be upgraded to deficit pattern,” Kharumnuid said. The total number of adhoc secondary schools, both planned and non-planned, totals to 434 and the number of teachers stands at 2978.