Voice of the People Party demands removal of Meghalaya education official

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has called for the removal of Vijay Kumar Mantri, the Commissioner and Secretary of the Education Department in Meghalaya. VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit expressed serious concerns regarding the administration of education, specifically citing issues with the Structured Pay Framework (SPF), teacher welfare in deficit grant-in-aid institutions, and school rationalization.

The VPP characterized the current policies as ‘anti-people’ and ‘anti-teacher,’ arguing that the government is prioritizing bureaucratic efficiency over the state’s unique social and geographical realities. The party warned that an uncertain or inferior pay structure could deter qualified candidates from entering the teaching profession.

In addition to the VPP’s demands, the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) has opposed the SPF. The association has objected to recent notifications that abolished long-standing sanctioned deficit and government teaching posts, shifting future appointments to a different structure that will only remain in force until the end of 2027-28.