SHILLONG : Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has appealed to deficit school teachers to call off their indefinite class boycott and resume teaching, saying the Government has already communicated its response to their demands in writing and remains open to further discussions.

The Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers Association launched its indefinite strike on November 11, pressing the Government to address various pending demands concerning teachers’ welfare and service benefits.

Rymbui said the Commissioner and Secretary of the Education Department had met representatives of the association last week to explain the Government’s position. A fresh letter detailing the steps already taken and those yet to be undertaken was also handed over to the association’s president and secretary on Wednesday.

He maintained that the Government had been engaging with the teachers and addressing their concerns through democratic means, without resorting to force or arbitrary decisions.

“We are governed by democracy, which we have to respect. The Government does not act arbitrarily and does not use force when it comes to any matter relating to the rights of workers,” he said.

The Education Minister, however, expressed concern that the ongoing class boycott would primarily affect students and disrupt their education.

“We will not gain anything from this strike, from boycotting classes, because this affects school children. I feel we should not make school children, our own children, suffer loss,” he said.

Reiterating that the Government was willing to continue discussions, Rymbui said, “As far as the Government is concerned, our doors are open. I appeal to them to call off their class boycott.”

He also alleged that the timing of the strike was intended to exert pressure on the Government, cautioning that any disruption could have implications for the benefits being sought by the teachers.

On the issue of Dearness Allowance (DA), Rymbui said the Government had already granted the enhancement due to the teachers, while the matter of pending arrears had been taken up with the Finance Department for release.

Regarding the delay in salary payments last month, he clarified that the issue was linked to a change in the head of account affecting all Government employees and was not confined to school teachers.

On the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme and the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) Rules, he said the Government would take necessary steps wherever possible, adding that the association was already aware of the discussions and developments surrounding the CPF Rules.

Responding to allegations that the Government was deliberately withholding vacant teaching posts, Rymbui rejected the charge and pointed to fresh advertisements for teacher recruitment published in newspapers.

He said vacancies were being advertised regularly wherever there was a genuine requirement, while recruitment could not be justified in schools with zero student enrolment.

“Every day there are advertisements for teacher posts. To allege that the Government is blocking it, that is not correct,” he said.

The Minister added that the Government continued to address concerns raised by school managements and committees, assuring that genuine requirements brought to its attention would be considered.