Tura, April, 20: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma was felicitated today by the All Meghalaya 4th Teachers’ Association, Garo Hills Unit, at a programme held at the District Auditorium, Tura, West Garo Hills. The felicitation programme was organised by the Association to express gratitude to the Chief Minister for his leadership in streamlining salary disbursement through the implementation of the Structure Pay Framework.
The Structure Pay Framework marks a significant reform in the education sector, aimed at ensuring timely and transparent salary disbursement for teachers. The initiative addresses long-pending issues related to pay structures and service conditions, bringing greater clarity, uniformity, and financial security to thousands of teachers across the State.
The Chief Minister was received on arrival, followed by a prayer offered by Jekius T. Sangma. A bouquet and memento were presented as part of the felicitation.
In his address, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the gesture and described the occasion as a rare and humbling moment. “As politicians, we are not often used to being thanked. There are always expectations that we must deliver, and rightly so. But people often forget to express their gratitude,” he said, adding that he felt deeply happy and humbled by the felicitation.
Recalling his election as a Member of Parliament in 2016, he said that his engagement with teachers during that period helped him understand the challenges within the education sector. That was when I first came to understand your problems and realised that the education sector had many deep-rooted issues that needed to be addressed,” he stated.
He noted that while some decisions were difficult, they were necessary to bring about meaningful reform. Emphasising a sense of purpose in governance, he said, “There is a reason why we are in government today—and I truly believe that reason is to serve and help the people of our state.” He further added, “I do not want to look back 20 or 25 years from now with regret… that thought drives me every day to do whatever is possible from my side.”
Highlighting the Government’s efforts, the Chief Minister stated that more than 23,000 teachers have benefited from recent decisions addressing long-pending issues. He said that the Government had taken steps to resolve concerns of SSA teachers, including fourth teachers, as well as ad hoc, Hindi grant, and science grant teachers. He also acknowledged the role of the Education Minister, officials, and former leadership in achieving these outcomes.
The Chief Minister further stated that upon assuming office in 2018, the State lacked a clear roadmap for the education sector. He noted that the introduction of an Education Policy and the constitution of the Education Commission helped establish direction and identify key areas requiring intervention, including infrastructure, teacher-related concerns, quality of education, training, and the use of technology.
Describing education as one of the most challenging sectors to reform, he said that balancing systemic changes with stability required careful planning. Decisions cannot be taken in isolation—they affect people, systems, and outcomes simultaneously,” he remarked, adding that significant progress has been made with the support of stakeholders. Emphasising the need to prioritise students, he stated, “The fundamental issue in education, for many years, has been that we have focused on everything except the child’s education.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Lahkmen Rymbui, stated that the Structure Pay Framework would contribute towards strengthening the education system and enhancing institutional efficiency.
Minister for PHE and Soil & Water Conservation, Marcuise N. Marak, in his address, acknowledged the initiative and reiterated the Government’s focus on employee welfare and the overall development of the education sector.
President of the Association, Tengsrang K. Sangma, expressed appreciation to the Government for addressing long-standing concerns of the teaching community and described the implementation of the Structure Pay Framework as a significant and long-awaited step forward.
Earlier, Vice President Tangseng M. Marak, in his welcome address, highlighted the importance of the reform in improving service conditions and boosting morale among teachers. He stated that the announcement of the Structure Pay Framework, effective from April 1, 2026, marked a moment of recognition, dignity, and hope for the teaching community.
It is more than a policy; it is a transformation. We stand here not only to thank you but to honour you,” he said. As a mark of appreciation, all the teachers present rose in unison to give a resounding show of gratitude to the Chief Minister.
The programme also featured cultural performances, including welcome and group songs, and concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Joint Director of School Education & Literacy, Tura.
