Newmai News Network
Shillong | September 12
The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE) has expressed its inability to conduct the improvement test of in-service teachers at the present time.
This was informed by the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) on September 12 after it received a letter from MBoSE intimating the Association of the position.
MHK Marak, Executive Chairman of MBOSE, Tura, in a letter sent to the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya Education Department with a copy forwarded to the Association on September 9, 2019 stated that the preparatory work for the SSLC and HSSLC Examination, 2020 was already going on and required to complete it timely, MBOSE was not in position to conduct the Improvement Examination in Class 12 (HSSLC) for in-service untrained (teachers) during the session.
However, Marak stated that keeping in mind the interest of the teachers and under the direction of the State Government, the Board can conduct the Improvement Exam in the next session.
It may be noted here that the MSSASA has been demanding that the state government give untrained in-service teachers in the elementary level a chance to appear for the improvement exams in class 12 (HSSLC) to acquire 50% for general category and 45% for SC/ST category to fulfill the minimum qualification as mandated under RTE Act, 2009.
This was necessitated after the Parliament in 2017 passed an Amendment to Section 23(2) of the RTE Act to extend the period to March 31, 2019 for all in-service untrained teachers.
Further, Anita Karwal, Additional Secretary MHRD, DSE&L, Government of India, in a letter sent to all States and UTs on August 3, 2017 stated, "Teachers in the Govt/Govt-Aided/unaided private schools, who do not have the minimum qualification mandated under RTE Act 2009, would not be allowed to continue in-service beyond April 1, 2019 and procedure for dismissal shall be initiated against such teachers."
In this backdrop, the MSSASA will be convening a general meeting of all untrained in-service teachers at the elementary level to discuss this important development.
