SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has strongly condemned the state government’s recent notification mandating that all new teacher appointments in deficit and government schools be made strictly on a contractual basis through the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM) for the next two years.
MPCC General Secretary Manuel Badwar criticized the August 19 notification, calling it a “complete washing of hands” by the government and a major blow to accountability in the education sector.
He warned that shifting recruitment to SEMAM—contingent on fund availability—would undermine smooth administration and diminish the focus on teacher development and instructional standards across nearly 14,000 educational institutions in the state.
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Badwar argued that the new policy would discourage highly qualified candidates from pursuing teaching careers, as contractual salaries would not match their qualifications, making the profession less attractive.
He also accused the government of reneging on previous assurances that any education overhaul would involve broad consultation with stakeholders.
Highlighting that Meghalaya’s education department receives over ₹1,800 crore annually from central and state sources, Badwar said the government’s claim of financial constraints is unfounded.
He urged the administration to reconsider the policy if it is serious about improving education and attracting talented youth to the teaching profession.
(4FrontMedia news)
