MSSASA demands Govt to regularize services of 12541 SSA teachers

The Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) on Monday reiterated its demand for creation of posts and shifting of 12541 existing SSA teachers from State Implementing Society to State Education department on regular basis as per provision of RTE/SSA norms.

A delegation of the association also sought the intervention of the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Swapnil Tembe for filling up of vacant teacher posts in lower primary and upper primary schools in the state.

Addressing media persons, MSSASA president Aristotle C Rymbai said the association had submitted a representation to the chairperson of the State Education Commission on October 1, 2023 for creation of posts and shifting of 12541 existing SSA teachers from State Implementing Society to State Education department on regular basis as per provision of RTE/SSA norms.

Of 12541 SSA teachers, there are 5814 lower primary teachers and 6727 upper primary teachers working under the budget head of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

He said the association has received a reply from the Member Secretary of the State Education Commission Ambrose Ch Marak informing that the Commission has received our representation and necessary steps are being taken by forwarding the same to the sub committee for further examination.

“We, therefore, request all SSA colleagues to kindly cooperate with the association since talks with the government are on.”

In regards to the issue of vacant posts, Rymbai informed that there are around 22 vacant posts in the lower primary schools and 89 in the upper primary schools.

“We have written a series of memorandums to the government but till date there has been no positive response. In view of this, we have today met the state project director and submitted a reminder. He has assured to take up with the government,” he said while informing that the association would also soon meet the education minister Rakkam A Sangma for further discussion on the matter.

“For the last 3 years many of the sanction post of head teacher and assistant teacher in SSA lower primary schools and upper primary schools in the state falls vacant due to resignation, expired etc, and this had affected the education of the students at large in those schools due to unavailability of teachers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MSSASA president also urged all SSA school teachers to try their best to increase the students enrolment so that it will affect the schools in the future.

“The government has come up with a decision to shut down schools with zero enrollment or single digit enrollment. Therefore, we would appeal to the SSA schools and try to improve and increase the enrolment,” he said.