Shillong, September 18, 2026: College and deficit school teachers have questioned the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government’s target of transforming Meghalaya into a $10-billion economy, raising concerns over policies they said could affect teachers’ salaries, job security and post-retirement benefits.
Speaking to reporters at the Shillong Press Club on September 18, Mary Anne Jyrwa of the College of Teacher Education (CTE), PGT College, expressed concern over the lack of adequate post-retirement benefits for teachers, including pension and Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) benefits.
Jyrwa questioned the significance of the Government’s economic growth target if teachers responsible for educating the state’s future workforce were not provided adequate job security and benefits.
She also criticised Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s statement in the State Assembly that some teachers receive salaries exceeding ₹4 lakh, saying such remarks could create a misleading impression among the public about teachers’ pay.
Prof. Shiv Pradhan of St. Anthony’s College alleged that the Government was creating a divisive narrative by highlighting differences between government, deficit and ad hoc teachers.
He said teachers across categories often have similar qualifications and responsibilities and argued that those receiving lower salaries should be given better pay rather than reducing the salaries or benefits of deficit teachers.
“Do not create the impression that teachers receiving reasonable salaries are being paid more than they deserve. It is their hard-earned money,” Pradhan said.
He maintained that teachers’ salaries should take into account qualifications, experience, inflation and the cost of living. Pay commissions, he said, comprise economists, academicians and other experts who assess such factors while recommending salary structures.
Pradhan also raised concerns over the Government’s new policy and the proposed Structured Pay Framework (SPF), alleging that these could affect the future security of teaching posts.
He claimed that when a deficit teacher retires, the Government could potentially discontinue the post under the existing salary structure and replace it with a contractual position or recruit a new teacher under the SPF.
According to Pradhan, while such an approach could reduce government expenditure on salaries, it could also affect the quality of education and make the teaching profession less attractive to qualified young people.
The teachers urged the MDA Government to clarify how the proposed $10-billion economy would translate into tangible benefits for government employees and the teaching community.
They argued that economic development should be reflected not only in overall economic figures but also in fair salaries, secure employment, post-retirement benefits and improved quality of life for the people of Meghalaya.
