Meghalaya Cabinet Approves Historic Pay Reform for 23,000 SSA Teachers

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SHILLONG: In a significant move, the Meghalaya cabinet has approved a revised pay structure for over 23,000 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, providing them with structured pay scales, annual increments, and job security. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma hailed the decision as a 'historic step' that addresses a long-standing demand of teachers. The new framework will replace the existing inconsistent honorarium-based payments with clearly defined pay slabs and annual increments, bringing eligible ad hoc and SSA teachers into a structured remuneration system. This move will also provide greater service security, a key concern for teachers who have often worked on temporary arrangements for over a decade. The decision was made after extensive consultations and financial assessments, with both teacher welfare and the state's fiscal capacity in mind. 'Our teachers are the backbone of the education system,' Sangma said. 'This decision is about dignity, stability, and recognising their contribution.' The policy will be implemented in phases, with detailed guidelines to be issued by the education department shortly. The government will also outline eligibility norms, service conditions, and transition mechanisms to ensure a smooth rollout. Teacher bodies have repeatedly raised concerns about low pay, lack of increments, and job insecurity, warning that these factors affect morale and classroom outcomes. The government said the reform is part of a broader push to strengthen the state's education system by improving teacher motivation, retention, and overall quality of instruction.