Teacher Dress Code: Govt school teachers oppose order

Various government school teachers’ associations held meetings on Sunday and decided to oppose the state government’s decision to implement a dress code for teachers and teaching staff from August 1.

Last week the state had sent circulars to schools asking them to implement light blue shirt with steel grey trousers for male teachers and light blue saree or suit for female teachers.
However, teachers said that they won’t comply with the order unless the quality of education imparted in government schools is improved. They also demanded separate allowance for the dress.

Nirmala Mahar, state president, Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, said, “The government is focusing on least important things such as ‘dress code’. They are overlooking issues like quality education and proper infrastructure. The teacher-student ratio is 2:90. Why are they not working to better these issues? The government is not even paying us allowance for the new dress code. Why do we put in money from our meagre salaries?”

Ram Singh Chauhan, president of Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh, said, “There is no question of complying with the order till our demands of better salaries and promotions are met.”

However, the Uttarakhand government is in no mood to roll back the order, which will become effective from August 1. School Education Minister Arvind Pandey said, “There should be no difficulty in complying with the order. It will make the teachers responsible and ensure attendance.”