Shillong, Aug 17: The Meghalaya Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Schools’ Association (MSSASA) has demanded from state government to ensure that all untrained teachers teaching in government, government-aided and private schools are trained in the state.
In a memorandum to the Principal Secretary (Education) DP Wahlang here on Thursday, MSSASA president Aristotle C Rymbai said that the government should ensure all untrained in-service elementary teachers who were appointed on or after September 3, 2001 are enrolled for training.
He said this is in view of a letter issued by Additional Secretary of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) Department of School Education & Literacy Anita Karwal on August 3, asking the state government to see that elementary school teachers who does not have the requisite minimum professional qualification mandated under the RTE Act, 2009, have to complete the professional qualification Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) within March 31, 2019.
He said that the letter further stated that failing (to comply) with directive; teachers’ service will be terminated with effect from April 1, 2019.
“It is the responsibility of the State Government to ensure that all in-service untrained teachers in the state acquire the minimum qualification within the above proposed extended period through Open Distance Learning (ODL) programme of NIOS,” he said.
The MSSASA also requested the Education department to publish in all leading newspapers in the State for wider coverage to make all in-service untrained teachers aware of this last opportunity given by the MHRD.
Rymbai said the state government should also ensure that all untrained in-service teachers under SSA in the State especially those who are in remote arrears where internet facility is not available for online registration, get enrolled in the D.El.Ed programme.
He also reminded the government that it is the last opportunity for the untrained teachers to acquire minimum professional qualification (D.El.Ed) as notified by MHRD.
