The order said that some teachers were in the ‘habit’ of wearing clothes which were sometimes not acceptable by the public. (Representative image / shutterstock)
The order said jeans and T-shirts would not be allowed and women tutors would have to wear salwar, but leggings were red-flagged.
The Assam government on Saturday issued a dress code for school teachers, asking them to attend classes in formal clothes of plain colors and “strictly” avoid party and casual attire.
The order noted that some teachers were in the “habit” of wearing clothes that were sometimes not acceptable to the public.
It further said that jeans and T-shirts would not be allowed and that women tutors would have to wear salwar, but leggings were red-flagged.
talking to cnn-news18Assam Education Minister Ronuj Pegu said, “There is a clause in the school rulebook that teachers should dress decently, properly and they should wear formal attire. So we thought it was needed.”
Ronaj Pegu had earlier tweeted, “Women teachers should be taught “decent salwar suits/sarees/mekhela-sadors” and not casual attire like T-shirts, jeans and leggings.”
Speaking to us, on the condition of anonymity, a teacher said that having a dress code was important and it is always followed.
No teacher comes to school wearing jeans. The salwar or the mekhela – the sador is good but one strange thing to mention was the leggings,” she said.
“I don’t see why we should change our dress code any more or why we should change the way we think about women who wear a certain type of clothing. I hope the way strictness is being exercised on the dress code of teachers, same strictness will be shown for SEBA board to conduct free and fair examination.
We spoke to another teacher who said that students follow teachers, and that it was “our moral obligation to dress appropriately in front of students”.
“It is very sad that some teachers are angry with the notification. Anyway, this is what our values have taught us. This is India, where Guru is considered as God. I welcome the move.”