Shillong, Aug. 4: Schoolteachers in Meghalaya today discussed the draft state education policy and laid emphasis on quality education. They also welcomed the Centre's decision to do away with the "no detention policy" in schools till Class VIII.

The teachers, under the Khasi-Jaintia Deficit School Teachers' Association, discussed the issue at its 36th general meeting held here today.

Association president E.D. Nongsiang told reporters that officials of the state education department have informed them that a draft education policy and a draft service rule are ready.

Last year, the state government had promised to frame service rules for deficit schoolteachers in the state. On August 1, a delegation of the association, which is part of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers' Associations of Meghalaya (Jacatam), met education officials.

According to the teachers, the education department is now waiting for views of chief minister Mukul Sangma who also looks after the department of school education and literacy.

Deficit schools are government-aided schools where the teachers' salaries are paid by the state government. The teachers of such schools have been working without service rules for the last 45 years. The association has been demanding a state education policy.

"We are happy that we will be having our own service rules and this will ensure job security," Nongsiang said.

He added that the education department is ready with the state education policy which will be put up in public domain soonfor soliciting views of stakeholders.

Nongsiang said the state's policy is in line with the National Education Policy and hoped that the state government will address issues concerning the policy.

The teachers found that one of the clauses in the draft policy seeks to do away with different categories of teachers in the state which, according to them, hampers the education system.

Nongsiang also discussed issues related to extension of the National Pension Scheme for deficit schoolteachers and the state education officials had told them that the scheme would be rolled out during the implementation of the recommendation of the Fifth Meghalaya Pay Commission.

The commission submitted its recommendations to the state government on Wednesday.

The teachers had earlier aired their grievances before the members of the pay commission and submitted their demand to include deficit teachers under the Assured Carrier Progressive Scheme as there is no scope for promotion of deficit teachers.

The other demand includes extension of medical reimbursement to deficit teachers and extending the retirement age from 60 to 62 years.

The teachers welcomed the Centre's move to amend the Right to Education Act to scrap the no-detention policy for schools till Class VIII.

Under the present provision of the act, students are promoted automatically to higher classes till Class VIII and not detained on account of poor performance in examinations.

"It is a good decision because we need quality education and students should sit for examinations," Nongsiang said.

Earlier, the general meeting unanimously resolved to allow the present executive committee, whose term ended today, to continue till they see that the recommendations of the fifth pay commission is extended and settled to deficit school teachers.

While Nongsiang is re-elected as president of the association, S.L. Rapthap was chosen as its new general secretary.

The association will also hold the convocation to issue certificates to teachers who have completed a three-year teachers' training course conducted by the University of Dublin in October.