Shillong/: More than 2,000 community-run schools under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) have submitted their No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to transfer school management responsibilities to the State Education Department.
The announcement was made following a review meeting held in Shillong on Monday, chaired by Commissioner and Secretary in-charge of Education, Vijay Kumar Mantri. The meeting was attended by District School Education Officers (DSEOs), Sub-Divisional School Education Officers (SDSEOs), and representatives from three major teachers’ associations: the All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association (AMSSASTA), the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association, and the Meghalaya Fourth Teachers’ Association (MFTA).
Aristotle C. Rymbai, President of the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association, informed reporters after the meeting that out of over 3,000 community-managed SSA schools across the state, more than 2,000 have expressed their willingness to hand over management to the government.
“Today, the Commissioner and Secretary shared data with us regarding the collection of NOCs from these schools. The department has so far received over 2,000 NOCs from various community schools that are ready to transfer management to the Education Department,” Rymbai said.
He also noted that 23 private schools from East Khasi Hills district have similarly submitted their willingness to hand over management responsibilities.
However, concerns were raised during the meeting over the non-uniform process of issuing notifications to School Management Committees (SMCs) regarding this handover. “There was a lack of clarity in the initial communication. So, we have now unanimously decided that fresh notifications will be sent to all SMCs that have not yet submitted their NOCs. These will clearly explain the department’s initiative and the importance of the transition,” Rymbai stated.
Another key issue discussed at the meeting was the long-pending rationalization of SSA and government teachers. Rymbai revealed that the association had been pursuing this matter since November 2023. “It has been nearly six months, and we have yet to see the rationalization process completed. After detailed deliberations, we have resolved that the entire process must be completed by the end of May,” he said.
He added that the rationalization would be carried out in three distinct categories, although further details are expected in the coming weeks.
This transition marks a significant step in aligning SSA schools with the broader objectives of the state’s education policy, ensuring better governance, accountability, and ultimately improved learning outcomes for students across Meghalaya.
