Mizoram Aided Schools Want Draft Bill Nullified

Aizawl, Jul 7 : The Mizoram government-aided schools have set July 15 as a deadline for the state government to nullify the draft Mizoram Education (Financial Assistance to Non-Government Schools) Rules, 2011.

Dubbing it ''Satanic Bill,'' the Mizoram deficit mission schools have also demanded nullification of the draft Bill.

The Mizoram Government Adhoc-Aided School Teachers’ Union (MIGASTU) feared that legislation of the Bill would force many government adhoc aided schools to close down.

According to the draft Bill, schools receiving financial assistance from the government will be categorised into A and B.

The quantum of financial assistance to the school shall be determined by the government, based on the numbers of students and many other criteria, as prescribed by the government from time to time, for granting financial assistance to category A schools.

The draft Bill also states that financial assistance for category B schools shall initially be Rs 1.5 lakh per annum which may be increased or decreased depending on availability of fund.

Besides this, the adhoc aided school teachers did not like the proposed inclusion of pupil-teacher ratio as one of the criteria in determining the financial assistance.

''We have seen the Bill as the government’s cunning attempt to downgrade the aided schools and leave the teachers with no other choice than to quit our jobs,'' David B Lalhruaitluanga, chairman of MIGASTU, said at a press conference here Tuesday.

There are 13 higher secondary schools, 129 high schools and 66 middle schools with around 9000 students across the state which are government adhoc aided.

''The Bill will force many of these schools to close down and the students will be the worst-hit. It will further affect social development in many villages. This is in a sharp contrast to the government’s claimed policy of bringing about world-class education in the state,'' the MIGASTU chairman said.

The teachers' union vowed that unless the government nullifies the draft Bill before July 15 they will continue to fight for their 'rights'.

MIGASTU also prayed the government to entitle them the sixth pay salaries which have already been enjoyed by government employees in Mizoram.

Adhoc aided teachers had enjoyed the fourth and the fifth pay recommendations with the rest of the government employees. They also demanded 26 per cent dearness allowances, enjoyed by government employees.