Meghalaya: AMMSU objects to the conversion of teacher’s post

TURA

The All Meghalaya Minority Students’ Union (AMMSU) raised objections to the conversion of a teacher’s post (Assistant Arabic) to that of a general assistant teacher in the Bhaitbari Deficit UP Madrasa School.

In a letter to the Sub–Divisional School Education Officer (SDSEO) on November 21, the union mentioned that the school, established in 1940, had an aim to teach local children Arabic along with other subjects.

“Abdul Karim occupied the post as assistant Arabic teacher (Fazil Marif) who retired in January 2019. The SMC had then advertised the post for filling up the vacancy on February 20, 2019,” said Nur Islam, president of the NGO.

However, the post was scrapped by the High Court for non-fulfilment of criteria mentioned in the advertisement to appoint an Assistant Arabic teacher in the UP School as prescribed by the NCTE (minimum qualification FM and 50 per cent in HSSLC with 2 years DELeD) and asked for the same to be re-advertised to avoid confusion.

However, once again, without mentioning the criterion for the post, the SMC advertised the post on November 17, 2020, which meant that the specialised Arabic post became a general one.

“Further, there is no mention in the RTE Act of MTET being mandatory for the said post for a person to be eligible as Assistant Arabic teacher (for classes I-Vii),” said the NGO.

The AMMSU demanded the post be left as it is (Arabic teacher) and to allow the SMC to appoint someone with FM and the other requirements for the post (NCTE and not MTET) instead of a general one.

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)