AMPSTA opposes move to abolish deficit teacher posts

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 8, 2025

The All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) has expressed strong opposition against any proposal to abolish the deficit sanctioned posts. 

A memorandum in this regard was submitted before the education minister Rakkam A Sangma during a meeting held on Monday. The delegation of the AMPSTA led by its general secretary FC Shullai has expressed concern over the proposed Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG) and issues affecting the teachers.

“Rather than phasing out these posts we call on the government to retain and fill them as deficit post,” Shullai said in a statement.

He said the association has hihglighted its concerns in regards to the continuity for deficit teachers that posts held by current deficit teachers will not be affected but after retirement the post will be transferred under MEG raises concerns about the continuity of these posts and the job security of future teachers. 

Shullai informed that the education minister clarified that if the school management hands over all assets to the government, the sanctioned posts will be converted into government posts and the teachers will become government employees. However, if the management does not hand over all assets, the existing teachers will continue to receive salaries as deficit but after their retirement the post will be transferred under MEG. 

“This has raised serious concerns for the association where we firmly urge the government to issue clear and formal directives ensuring job security and continuity of service for all deficit teachers both current and future,” he added.

Shullai also stated while acknowledging and appreciating the government’s intent to improve the quality of education system, the association also strongly opposes provisions that lack transparency, fairness and accountability.

Shullai highlighted some of the main concerns of the association that include: unclear criteria or guidelines for performance based enhancement may create inequalities for under resourced schools, granting full authority to SMCs or GBs without checks and accountability may lead to misuse of power, delay in filing long standing teacher vacancies post and in releasing posts for Garo and Khasi languages subjects, lack of transparency in contributed provident fund (CPF) deposited in the State Bank of India, Laitumkhrah branch and back to back government notification orders without instructions. 

“Given these concerns, we respectfully urge the government to: provide clear and transparent guidelines detailing the criteria for performance based funding, improve accountability measures to regulate the authority of SMCs or GBs and prevent misuse of powers, ensure safeguards to protect the rights and job security of deficit teachers,” the general secretary stated.

Further, AMPSTA also discussed on the Memorandum of Understanding between the education department and Mother’s Union, Tura where we expressed our concern and strong disagreement in which the education minister informed that the government has taken hold on this matter and will wait for Chief Minister’s decision before proceeding with further discussions.

AMPSTA has urged the government not to overlook the grassroot realities of our schools and teachers. Policies made without ground level consultation will only lead to further complications. 

“We are not against reforms, however they must be properly consulted and the rights of teachers must be protected. We hope the government will addressed our concerns promptly to avoid any due course of action and ensure a fair, just and transparent educational system as a whole,” Shullai stated.