Schools across State affected as teachers begin strike

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Aug 22: The functioning in the Government aided schools across Meghalaya affected today following the strike by teachers under the banner of Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM) to protest against the state government’s delay for provincialization of teachers’ services in Meghalaya. The teachers as a part of the protest remained absent from school.

Speaking to reporters JACATAM chairman, ED Nongsiang informed that all teachers under the banner of the JACATAM have actively participated in the first day of the general strike but there has been no official responses from the state government till date.

 “If the state government does not invite us for talk before September 5, we will intensify our agitation programme which will be announced on the 5 of September which is also the teacher’s day,” he said.

He, however, said that if they got the invitation for talk they will see the outcome of the meeting and then only decide.

When asked about the impact of the strike, Nongsiang said that during the inspection today they found that in some schools the Principal and its Magement have engaged the students in other activities while in some institution teachers who are not with the JACATAM have been temporarily engaged in their place.

Informing that there are over 15 to 20 deficit schools from each zones only in Shillong city and over 30 to 15 teachers from each school who are with the JACATAM depending on the size of the institution, Nongsiang also informed that during their inspection today the Laban Assamese Girls’ Higher Secondary School Shillong also temporarily shut down their school since there were no teachers.

Stating that there 5 phase of agitation will begin after September 5, he however said that the state government cannot abstain from its responsibility relating to education and cannot say that it is not under their look out.

“During our appointment the approval including confirmation is being done by the government and it also pays the salary right from the Principal level to the chowkidar. So it cannot just push its responsibility to others,” he said

Nongsiang further said that most of the school maging committee supports the JACATAM except for few who are trying to mislead the teachers but some have started cooperating with them after consultation.

He also said that the lack of education policy has given rise to this entire problem and the government did nothing in all the past years and there is no system or policy to look and aid the schools and maging committee of schools.