Shillong, Aug 4: Teachers under the banner of Khasi-Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association welcomed the decision of the Central government to scrap the “no detention policy” in schools till Class VIII by amending the Right to Education Act.

During their 36th general meeting held here on Friday, the teachers also discussed issues related to quality education in the state including the draft state education policy, which is yet to be implemented in the state till date, despite 45 years of statehood.

KJDSTA president E.D. Nongsiang told reporters that the state draft education policy and draft service rules for deficit school teachers were ready, and officials of the state education department have also informed them that the education department is waiting for views of the chief minister Mukul Sangma who also looks after the department of school education and literacy.

Nongsiang said that he Assocaition was happy since the teachers would be having their own service rules and hoped that having he service rules in place will ensure job security for teachers.
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The state education policy will put up the state education policy in public domain soon for seeking views of stakeholders.

The KJDSTA’s general meeting also discussed issues related to extension of the National Pension Scheme for deficit schoolteachers and the state education officials have informed them that the scheme would be rolled out during the implementation of the recommendation of the Fifth Meghalaya Pay Commission.

The teachers demanded that deficit teachers should be also included under the Assured Carrier Progressive Scheme as there is no scope for promotion of deficit teachers, besides extension of medical reimbursement to deficit teachers and extend the retirement age from 60 to 62 years.

On the Centre’s move to amend the Right to Education Act to scrap the no-detention policy for schools till Class VIII, Nongsiang termed it a “good decision.”

“We need quality education and students should sit for examinations and get promoted to higher classes,” Nongsiang said.
Under the present provision of the RTE act, students are promoted automatically to higher classes till Class VIII and not detained on account of poor performance in examinations.