The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) Central Body has opposed the Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) demand for the removal of Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri, terming the demand “unfair”.
MSSASA president Aristotle C. Rymbai said Mantri was being unfairly singled out for implementing government decisions after due process, asserting that the officer has instead been responsive to the concerns of the teaching community and committed to advancing education reforms in Meghalaya.
Rymbai said Mantri has been “hardworking, dedicated and committed” to bringing reforms to Meghalaya’s education sector and has been responsive to grievances raised by the teaching community.
The Education Commissioner was implementing policies and decisions taken by the government after following the required due process, and should not be singled out for decisions taken at the government level, added Rymbai.
Rymbai also defended the government’s introduction of a structured pay framework for SSA, ad hoc and other teachers who, he said, had been receiving fixed salaries without job security for nearly two to three decades.