Kurta-pyjama caught amid tradition, discipline
Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 15
Education Minister OP Soni’s remark on banning kurta-pyjama for male teachers has attracted a lot of criticism.
Teachers across the state have condemned Education Minister after his video ridiculing kutra-pyjama went viral on social media.
Soni while speaking to The Tribune said, “Male teachers who come to school wearing kurta-pyjama give an impression of an informal set-up. If teachers themselves will not dress up with discipline, what will students learn from them? The only rationale is to form a conducive environment for students. I have spoken to the union members and it will be implemented henceforth.”
Meanwhile, union members who were to stage a rally in Patiala on Saturday halted demonstration after receiving an extended date of meeting with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The union members will discuss the dress code issue with chief minister in a meeting which has been fixed on July 23.
Parveen Kumar, a member of the Sanjha Adhiyapak Morcha said, “Kurta-pyjama is an age-old tradition of Punjab. There is nothing wrong in wearing the same. Which Punjabi does not wear a kurta-pyjama? We will certainly discuss this issue with Chief Minister on July 23 in Patiala.”
Gurpreet Singh, a member of the Democratic Teacher Front said, “Rather than laying emphasis on key areas of developing schools, the government is trying to deflect the issue. Such statements show inability of the government to resolve grave concerns. What is wrong with traditional attire? We will ask the minister in a meeting.”
However, this is not the first time orders pertaining to dress code have stirred a debate. Last year, the Director General School Education (DGSE) ordered teachers in government schools not to wear “indecent and provocative clothes, including jeans, tops and fashionable dresses”. However, the orders were withdrawn within 24 hours after it drew outrage from teachers.
Meanwhile, Soni also announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for exposing proof of bribery in transfer of teachers.
