Shillong, August 22, 2025 – The All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (APSTA) staged a massive protest rally on Friday, marching from Jail Road to Golf Link Dorbar Shnong, to oppose the Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG) policy and demand the release of long-pending arrears.

At the rally, veteran teacher Babu Lewis strongly criticized the working conditions in government schools, warning that the government’s policies were eroding both the dignity of teachers and the future of students.

“In government schools, we are not only teachers but also laborers. We have to clean, repair classrooms, care for children, and manage schools—yet we receive no recognition or support. The MEG has created only confusion and uncertainty, reducing education to a financial scheme instead of a mission to build the future of children,” Lewis said.

Echoing similar concerns, Babu Kular Khongjrem, a teacher from Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian, declared that the MEG policy risks privatizing education and undermining the teaching profession. “We serve education, not agreements. Teachers are not to be treated as mere numbers in financial records,” he told the gathering, urging the government to immediately release the pending 46% and 49% DA arrears and ensure job security for teachers.

The rally concluded with a public meeting at Golf Link, where teachers resolved to continue their movement until the government ensures clarity, fairness, and dignity in education policies.