SHILLONG, Sept 7 - The Meghalaya Government today decided to increase the recruitment age of teachers by five years, stating that the move is aimed at getting �quality teachers� for schools and colleges across the State.
The decision to increase the upper age limit was taken after a Cabinet meeting here. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said candidates would be able to apply for posts of teachers up to the age of 37 years from now onwards.
The age limit was fixed at 27 years earlier with Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates getting an additional relaxation of five years. So a ST or SC candidate could earlier apply for a teacher�s post in a government institution till the age of 32 years, which now stands extended to 37 years.
Rymbui said that the decision was taken as a number of candidates with higher educational qualifications could not apply due to the previous upper age limit.
�Some candidates who pursue postgraduate studies and Bachelor of Education courses cross the upper age limit for recruitment. So we want to give opportunities to such candidates with higher educational qualifications,� the minister pointed out.
Rymbui said Friday�s Cabinet decision would benefit schools and colleges across the State as it would enable recruitment of �quality teachers�.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Cabinet has also increased the merit scholarship of students across the State. Every year, 264 students from lower primary and 84 students from upper primary schools are entitled to avail of merit scholarship in different Government-run educational institutions.
