SHILLONG, Aug 22 - Teachers of 4,770 Government-aided schools in Meghalaya have gone on a general strike from today demanding their jobs be provincialised.
The teachers said, the Government has not called them for talks and they would intensify their agitation if the authorities don�t meet them.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Education, RC Laloo said first the Government has to sit with the Management Committees (MCs) of the Government-aided schools, which appoints these teachers, and then a decision could be taken.
The Government on its part maintain the teachers were appointed by the MCs of these schools and so the question of provincilising their jobs doesn�t arise at this moment.
However, ED Nongsiang, chairman of All Teachers� Association of Meghalaya (JACATAM) spearheading the strike, said: �the teachers are appointed in the schools after getting approval from the Education department.�
He says, during the interview of teachers in these Government-aided schools an official from the Education department is part of the interviewing board along with members from the MCs.
�So how can the Government say that the MCs only appoint the teachers? The teachers are appointed by the MCs and the Government,� he stated.
There are over 14,000 teachers in the 4,770 schools across the State and with the strike classes have been disrupted. Nongsiang added, that they would continue with the strike.
�On September 5, we would meet again and decide on the future course of our action,� he stated.