Shillong: The agitating contractual schools teachers on Friday called off their protest after the state government agreed to give them another opportunity to appear for Meghalaya Teachers’ Eligibility Test (MTET).
This decision was taken following a meeting between the protesting teachers and Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui.
“We have called off our protest after the government gave us another chance to appear for MTET exams,” Birbor Riangtem, who is the President of the Meghalaya Government Lower Primary School Contractual Teachers’ Association (MGLPSCTA), said.
“We heard from our lawyers that the Supreme Court had ordered the state government to allow all contractual school teachers to reappear for the MTET exams with some cut-off marks,” he added.
When reporters sought further details on the Supreme Court order, Riangtem said that he is yet to receive the copy of the court order.
The protesting teachers camped near the secretariat since last night.
Reiterating that the government’s stance that it will not comply to the demand of agitating teachers for reinstatement or regularisation, the Education Minister, however, informed that “age condonation” will be given to agitating teachers so they can reappear for the MTET examination.
“I have made it very clear to them that regular appointment can be made only after following the process as per the NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) norms adopted by the state government which includes passing D. El. Ed. and MTET examination,” Rymbui said, adding that the government is “conscious” and “empathise” with the sentiments of the agitating teachers.
