Now, Edu Dept to float tenders to buy uniform

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 10

After failing to timely provide uniforms to government school students, the Director General of School Education today cancelled a previous order regarding the purchase at the school level. A new letter was issued to all district education officers, block primary education officers and school heads informing them that the department would float “centralised tenders” to buy uniforms. The students of Classes I to VIII in government schools get free uniforms.

Half of the winter season is over and a majority of the students come to schools either wearing torn uniform or colourful sweaters.

This fresh letter has again upset the school heads, who are now saying that they had started the process to buy uniforms. “Earlier, we were told to give bank accounts of students as the money had to be transferred into their accounts. Later, however, the School Management Committees were asked to buy uniforms at Rs 600 each. Today, we have got fresh orders stating that the uniforms would be purchased by floating a centralised tender.”

Malkit Singh, District Education Officer (DEO), Muktsar, said he was unaware of the reason behind move.

Attempts to contact Krishan Kumar, secretary, School Education, and Prashant Goyal, Director General of School Education (DGSE), proved futile.