Shillong, March 28: The All Garo Hills 4th Teacher’s Association has sought the intervention of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma to ensure equal pay for equal work to all the fourth teachers working in SSA schools.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Association president Tengsrang K Sangma said, “We have urged the chief minister during a meeting with him in Tura to enhance the salary of the 4th teachers equal to the amount enjoyed by the other three assist teachers in SSA schools.”

He informed that the three assistant SSA teachers are getting a salary of Rs 20.493 each, while the 4th teacher is being paid a meagre of only Rs 12,000 despite doing the same work and having the same qualification and experience.

Moreover, Tengsrang said that earlier when the SSA was first implemented in the state, the government had appointed four teachers for each school with the same salary of Rs 1,500 per month per teacher.

In 2008, the state government also had enhanced the salary of all the four teachers equally to Rs 3,000 each, he said.

“Unfortunately in 2010, the government decided to categorised 1 teacher as 4th teacher and pay different salary whereas the 3 teachers are drawing a sum Rs 9900 per month but 4th Teachers had to draw Rs 6000,” he said while also urging the government to regularise the services of the 4th teachers.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has assured the association to look into the matter for the greater interest of the teaching fraternity, he said.