Shillong, Dec 16: The state government’s efforts to negotiate with the aggrieved SSA teachers has cleared a roadblock with the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) deciding to withdraw its proposed agitation.
The association in its general meeting held at Students’ Field, Jaiaw here on Monday, took three major decisions, including withdrawal of the proposed agitation.
The decisions were taken in the wake of the two rounds of discussions held with the government on steps to be taken to address grievances of over 13,000 teachers working under Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the state. MSSASA was invited for talks with the government on November 18 and December 4.
“We have unanimously decided to withdraw our proposed protest as we have decided to continue discussion with the government,” said MSSASA president Aristotle C Rymbai on Monday.
Meanwhile, the association resolved to urge the government to exempt all SSA teachers, who had joined on or before 1 July 2020, from clearing Meghalaya Teachers’ Eligibility Test (MTET).
The government issued a notification on 1 July 2020 making MTET mandatory for appointment of teachers.
“Therefore, we have unanimously decided that the government should consider all SSA teachers, who joined on or before July 1, 2020 to exempt them from clearing MTET,” he said.
Further, the MSSASA has demanded for constitution of an empowered committee to take up the matters related to grievances of SSA teachers, including formulation of policy to ensure job security of SSA teachers.
Members of the empowered committee should comprise representatives from departments of law, personnel, finance, planning, education and the association, he said.
