SHILLONG, May 18: Amid mounting concerns over the growing burden on school teachers engaged in multiple government assignments, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday announced the postponement of the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET), which was earlier scheduled to be held on May 29, following appeals from educators struggling to balance academic responsibilities with mandatory national duties linked to the Census and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Addressing a public programme at Damas in North Garo Hills, the Chief Minister said a delegation of teachers had recently apprised him of the practical difficulties they were facing in preparing for the eligibility examination while simultaneously carrying out classroom teaching and extensive government assignments.
“The teachers are worried and in a dilemma, given their multiple concurrent assignments,” Sangma said while announcing the deferment of the examination.
“Considering their concerns, I would like to inform that the MTET examination stands postponed. Teachers need not worry. We will evaluate the overall situation and reschedule a proper, suitable date to ensure they have adequate preparation time,” he added.
The decision comes against the backdrop of increasing pressure on teachers across the State, many of whom have been drafted for Census-related responsibilities and SIR duties in addition to their regular teaching obligations, leaving little time for preparation for the teacher eligibility examination.
Using the occasion to reflect on the broader condition of Meghalaya’s education sector, the Chief Minister acknowledged that despite substantial investments and infrastructural expansion undertaken by the government in recent years, the State continues to face significant challenges in improving educational quality and learning outcomes.
He praised teachers for their continued dedication and resilience while working under difficult circumstances, including shortcomings in professional training and systemic limitations within the education sector.
“In terms of quantity, we have enough schools, but we are lagging behind in quality,” Sangma remarked.
“Raising the standard will take time, but we are fully committed to ensuring it happens. However, this transformation cannot rely solely on the government or the teachers. It requires an integrated ecosystem where parents and all stakeholders actively collaborate to uplift our students,” he added.
The Chief Minister also underlined that while the government has expanded the number of educational institutions and upgraded infrastructure through sustained fiscal intervention, the focus must now shift towards strengthening teaching standards, learning quality and collective community participation in the education system.
