ABVP Meghalaya called for revision of salaries for govt school teachers

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 26, 2024

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Meghalaya sought the intervention of the State Governor for the timely disbursement and revision of salaries for government school teachers.

The ABVP led by National Secretary Kamlesh Singh along with Meghalaya State President Dr. Sachankutlang Khongthothrem, State Vice President Dr. Salony Bareh, Central Working Committee member Nibiang Sumer, and North East Council Members Darilin Tang and Bomsing Khongwir submitted a memorandum to Governor of Meghalaya CH Vijayasankhar on Thursday.

According to the memorandum, the delegation underscored the inadequate infrastructure in educational institutions across the state, particularly in rural areas where students struggle to access schools within reasonable distances.

Despite 50 years of statehood, many districts still lack government undergraduate colleges, forcing students to either move to cities and incur high private college fees or drop out entirely. Moreover, Meghalaya currently has no government postgraduate colleges, and concerns were raised about the ability of the upcoming State University to meet local students’ needs when it will begin operations in 2025.

The delegation apprised the Governor of the challenges faced by tribal students under the Umbrella Scholarship Scheme. Many eligible students are unable to avail the scholarships due to delays in distribution, leaving them financially constrained to continue their studies.

The ABVP pointed to the significant gap in the teacher-student ratio across educational institutions was highlighted, from primary schools to higher education. The lack of adequate recruitment directly impacts the quality of education, emphasizing the need for proportional staffing to improve learning outcomes.

The memorandum expressed concern over high dropout rates at the secondary and higher secondary levels, attributing them to insufficient teacher training and a lack of formal qualifications among many educators.

They advocated for mandatory professional qualifications, such as Diploma in Elementary Education (D.Ed.Ed) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), to enhance teaching quality and student engagement.

The ABVP urged the government to ensure the timely disbursement of salaries for government school teachers to avoid disruptions in education. Additionally, they called for a revision of primary teachers’ salary structures to provide a living wage and enable them to maintain a decent standard of living.

The ABVP Meghalaya delegation emphasized that addressing these challenges is critical to transforming the state’s education system and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all.

The Governor assured the delegation that their concerns would be conveyed to the relevant authorities and pledged his support toward improving Meghalaya’s educational landscape.