Agartala, 30th April 2026: Teachers under the SPQEM (Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasas) project in Tripura have staged a deputation at Sonamura school inspector’s office, submitting a five-point demand after their salaries were withheld for two consecutive months.
For years, SPQEM teachers have been demanding a salary hike. Instead of an increase, they now face a complete stoppage of pay since February 2026. Around 336 teachers working in different madrasas across the state have been left in severe financial distress, struggling to pay rent, buy rations, cover children’s education expenses, and afford medicines.
A member of the SPQEM Teachers’ Coordination Committee stated, “The funding is shared between the Centre and the State in a 60:40 ratio. Since the Centre’s share has not been released, the State has withheld our salaries. Despite repeated visits to the department, no solution has been offered. We demanded a pay hike, but now even our salaries are stopped. How are we supposed to survive with our families, especially during Eid and New Year?”
The teachers have demanded immediate clearance of pending salaries and restructuring of the pay scale in the upcoming assembly session. They have also warned of launching a larger agitation if their demands are not met promptly.
With Eid and Bengali New Year already passing without pay, frustration is mounting among SPQEM teachers. Despite being an integral part of the state’s education system, they say they have faced neglect for decades. The pressing question now remains: when will the government stand by these teachers?
