Teachers’ protest against Meghalaya Education Grant intensifies in Jowai

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 19, 2025

Opposition to the state government’s proposed Meghalaya Education Grant (MEG) is intensifying, with the Jaintia Hills Lower Primary School Teachers’ Association (JHLPSTA) organising a peaceful rally in Jowai on Monday that drew around 200 educators from across the district.

The rally began at Marian Hill Ground, passed through Iawmusiang and culminated at Jrisalein Ground, Chutwakhu, where participants voiced strong objections to the MEG and other recent Education Department decisions.

Teachers slam “confusing” government orders

Addressing the gathering, All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) general secretary F.C. Shullai criticised the government for what he described as “confusing and contradictory” decisions.

He recalled how the department issued an order on January 6, 2025, making retirement at 58 mandatory for Grant-in-Aid teachers with effect from May 31, 2025. “When I asked the Education Minister about the order, the reply I got was, ‘I have no knowledge of it’. Just two days later, the same minister informed us that the order was withdrawn. This is unacceptable,” Shullai said.

He said that teachers have lost confidence in the department’s handling of key policies, warning that the MEG could be used to abolish the structures that safeguard their jobs. On arrears, particularly the pending enhancement of Dearness Allowance (46% and 49%) along with the 3% increment, he informed that while teachers in Ri-Bhoi have received the 46% DA, others are still waiting. He added that regarding the Central Provident Fund (CPF), teachers’ money has already crossed several crores with interest, and if the government fails to provide a satisfactory reply, they will proceed legally to ensure every teacher gets their rightful account.

MoU in Garo Hills fuels fresh distrust

Shullai also highlighted the controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 19, 2025, between the Education Department and the Tura Mothers’ Union for the management of 20 lower-primary schools in West Garo Hills.

“This is nothing but a ploy by certain senior officials to mislead the government and destabilise the system,” he alleged, pointing out that several schools named in the MoU had themselves objected to it. He accused some officials of “creating chaos in Meghalaya before moving to other postings.”

Fear of losing deficit posts

Speakers at the rally — including AMPSTA joint secretary C. Daribha Synrem, assistant general secretary Vegonia Nongpluh, and Heavenly War of Amlarem Unit — warned that the MEG could pave the way for the abolition of deficit sanctioned posts.

They alleged that the government intends to merge Deficit, Ad-hoc and SSA schools under one uniform structure, effectively erasing the deficit system.

“If we look only at the present, existing teachers may not be immediately affected. But we are fighting for the collective good. Once current teachers retire, their posts will be converted under MEG — and that will directly harm future generations of teachers,” one speaker said.

Statewide agitation ahead

The unions said they are prepared for further agitation if the government fails to provide guarantees. AMPSTA and its units have announced statewide peace rallies in Tura on August 20 and Shillong on August 22.

They reminded that on June 26, AMPSTA had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, giving the government a one-month deadline to withdraw anti-teacher policies. Although the January 6 retirement order has since been suspended, unions fear it could resurface under a different guise.

Background on MEG

The MEG is designed as a single-window grant system to replace multiple existing schemes. While the government insists it is meant to “streamline funding and improve efficiency,” teachers bodies argue that without legal safeguards it will erode job security, especially for deficit school teachers.

With protests now spreading from Jaintia Hills to Garo and Khasi Hills, the MEG issue has erupted into a full-blown showdown in Meghalaya’s education sector.