Contract teachers of Meghalaya protested in front of the Chief Minister’s residence.

Shillong: Hundreds of contract teachers in Meghalaya on Monday protested in front of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s official residence in Shillong to restore their jobs.

The protesting teachers under the banner of Meghalaya Government Lower Primary Contractual Teachers Association (MGLPCTA) were later shifted by the police to a place near the MBoSE office.

At least 800 teachers are demanding restoration of their jobs after their services are terminated in 2021.

The Contract teachers of Meghalaya , teachers said they were appointed in 2010 and 2012 but were fired last year after the government introduced the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) exams in 2018-19.

“We were appointed in 2010 and 2012 and at that time, there was no MTET. However, the government introduced the exam in 2018 and is now asking us to appear for it. We are past age and now love to study. No. And since, we were appointed before the introduction of MTET, we, the teachers on contract, should be reinstated and allowed to serve till the age of 60,” Meghalayan said MGL. PCTA president Berber Reangtim said.

He said that contract teachers want to continue their work till their retirement.