Meghalaya Teachers Rally in Shillong Demanding Pay Hike and Job Security
Ad‑hoc teachers in Meghalaya protest demanding regularisation and higher pay.
Hundreds of ad hoc school teachers in Meghalaya, united under the Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM), staged a powerful demonstration in Shillong, demanding immediate regularisation of their services and enhanced pay. The protesters marched through the state capital to press their grievances, accusing the government of failing to honor commitments made nearly two years ago by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on December 17, 2023.
FASTOM is calling for the transfer of ad hoc teachers to the deficit system, a 5% annual salary increment, an increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, and the fulfillment of earlier assurances. In Meghalaya, teachers are categorized as government-appointed, deficit (partly state-funded), or ad hoc, with the latter receiving fixed honorariums without benefits. Ad hoc teachers, who form a significant portion of the state’s education workforce, earn Rs 18,000 per month for lower primary, Rs 22,000 for upper primary, Rs 29,000 for secondary, Rs 31,000 for science, and Rs 33,000 for higher secondary sections.
S Jungai, FASTOM’s vice president, voiced the teachers’ frustration, stating, “Ad hoc teachers perform the same duties as regular ones but are deprived of benefits. The government must bring in a clear policy to reform the ad hoc system.” He highlighted that many teachers, despite decades of service, continue to receive meager salaries compared to their regular counterparts. Jungai warned that the agitation would intensify if the government failed to act swiftly, adding, “If the authorities act within a day or two, it will be good. If not, we will be forced to intensify the protest.”
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The protest underscores deep-seated issues in Meghalaya’s education sector, where ad hoc teachers, including those in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan schools, face job insecurity and inadequate compensation. As the agitation continues, the state government faces mounting pressure to address these demands and reform the education system to ensure equity and stability for its teaching workforce.
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