Kohima, September 14 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) has convened an Emergency Teachers’ General Meeting on September 18 to discuss concerns arising from recent developments relating to the TET requirement for in-service teachers, particularly those appointed prior to the implementation of the RTE Act.
The meeting will be held at 11:00 AM at the CANSSEA Conference Hall, Kohima, and is open to all teachers appointed prior to August 2010.
According to an ANSTA notice issued by General Secretary Pekinto Y Jimo, the meeting will provide an opportunity for the affected teachers to place their concerns, views and grievances before the Association and to collectively deliberate upon the lawful and appropriate course of action available to the teaching community.
Citing the sensitivity of the matter and “genuine frustration” among affected teachers, ANSTA has issued a code of conduct for participants, urging them to maintain discipline, dignity and mutual respect throughout the meeting.
Participants have been directed to maintain decorum, refrain from shouting or using abusive language, and express differences of opinion respectfully without personal attacks. The notice prohibits defamatory, baseless or unverified allegations against any individual, office bearer, government official, organisation or fellow teacher.
It also bars any incitement to violence, intimidation, damage to property, obstruction of public functions or other unlawful acts. Any proposal for agitation, demonstration, representation or collective action shall be considered only through appropriate organisational and legal procedures, the Association said.
Stressing individual responsibility, ANSTA stated that every participant shall be personally accountable for his or her own words and actions, and that no individual shall claim to speak or act on behalf of the Association without due authorisation from its competent body.
The Association further said it shall not endorse or be responsible for any unauthorised or unlawful act undertaken independently by any participant, and that any officially adopted course of action shall be undertaken only through the appropriate organisational process.
All participants have been asked to abide by the directions of the presiding Chair, who shall have the authority to call the meeting to order and take appropriate steps against persistent disruption.
In its appeal, ANSTA said the concerns of teachers, particularly those who have rendered many years of service before the implementation of the RTE Act, are serious and deserve to be heard with due consideration. However, it added that no grievance, “however genuine or serious,” should become a cause for violence, intimidation, abuse, defamation or any unlawful conduct.
The Association appealed to all participants to attend the meeting in a spirit of unity, restraint, dignity and constructive dialogue so that the collective concerns of the teaching community may be placed before the appropriate authorities in a responsible and lawful manner. All concerned teachers have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.
