Shillong, May 6: Today’s meeting between officials of the Education Department and teachers of aided schools and colleges on the contentious Centralised Provident Fund (CPF) Scheme failed to make any headway.
The meeting was convened by the Education Department to discuss on the concerns made by teaching and non-teaching staff of aided schools and colleges regarding the recently notified Meghalaya Non-Government School and College Centralised Provident Fund Scheme, 2026.
During the meeting, representatives of the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association ( MCTA) expressed the view that since the matter relating to the CPF Scheme is sub judice in the Meghalaya High Court, they would not like to make any detailed comment on the issue at this stage.
Leaders of Khasi-Jaiñtia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) however expressed concerns that representatives from Garo Hills region were not present at the meeting. They also opined that discussion on the matter should be presently confined to deficit school teachers and college lecturers.
Taking their concerns into consideration, the Education Department decided to convene another round of meeting to ensure wider consultation and participation.
During the meeting, representatives of the Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers’ Association (MUPSTA) requested the Education Department to conduct awareness programmes on the provisions and operational aspects of the newly launched CPF Scheme.
Several retired teachers and lecturers present at the meeting requested for 100 per cent withdrawal of the CPF amount accumulated in their accounts.
After due deliberations, Commissioner & Secretary of Education Department Vijay Kumar Mantri instructed the State Bank of India (SBI) officials present at the meeting to furnish to the Education Department the detailed statement of all retired teachers and lecturers by May 10.
The SBI statement would then be verified by the Directorate of School Education (DSE) and Directorate of Higher and Technical Education (DHTE) following which authorisation will be issued to allow eligible retired teachers to approach the SBI and withdraw 100 per cent of the accumulated CPF amount standing in their accounts.
It was also decided that all retired teachers and lecturers wanting to opt out of the CPF Scheme and withdraw the full accumulated amount would have to submit an undertaking to the respective District School Education Officer (DSEO) in the case of school teachers and to the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education (DHTE) in the case of college lecturers.
“With regards to the implementation and operationalisation of the CPF Scheme, the Education Department shall await the outcome of the matter presently pending before the honourable High Court,” Mantri said.