Shillong: Meghalaya College Principals’ Council (MCPC) members are fighting back. They refuse to accept a state government plan to scrap the UGC pay scale. The principals warn that losing these standards will cripple higher education quality across the state. They met at St Anthony’s College on September 11 to address this and other administrative threats.
The Council wants the UGC scale extended to all government-aided schools. This includes Adhoc and People’s Colleges. They also insist that the government keep UGC-sanctioned posts in deficit colleges that transitioned into People’s Colleges. The UGC Career Advancement Scheme remains a top priority. "The system had encouraged teachers to improve their professional standards and remain on a par with college teachers elsewhere in the country," the MCPC stated.
Staff issues crowded the agenda. The Council demanded CUET centres in every district headquarters. They also want faster recruitment for teachers and better management of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme. Infrastructure funding and vocational training grants also topped the list of demands. Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri attended the meeting. He promised the government would review the group's memorandum.
The conference concluded with leadership appointments. Dr Eureka FP Lyngdoh will serve another term as president. Dr KK Nongsiej takes the vice-president role, while Dr RM Manih steps in as general secretary. Dr S Khongwir and Dr Ratnadeep Roy will handle joint secretary and treasurer duties. An executive committee of 13 members will represent diverse colleges throughout Meghalaya to drive these reforms.
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