Punjab: School heads ‘reluctant’ to receive uniforms over quality issues

The Project Director of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has written to district education officers in Punjab, saying uniforms being delivered through self-help groups (SHGs) are “not being received” by many school heads.

This has come as the distribution of uniforms among underprivileged students studying in Classes I to VIII began in Ropar’s Kiratpur Sahib, Salora and Mianpur blocks.

Several teachers said they were “reluctant” to receive uniforms due to quality and measurement issues.

Punjab Education Minister dismissed quality concerns, alleging that “certain vested interest were against the cause of involving self- help groups in providing uniforms”. Over the years, the Education Department is gradually moving from the practice of involving school management committees to self-help groups.

This year, the department has decided to purchase uniforms for six lakh students from the SHGs.

During the current academic session, 14 lakh poor students will be given uniforms, with each one costing Rs 600. The government has earmarked Rs 35 crore for it.

The uniforms for the remaining students are being sourced through school management committees.

Several school heads and parents questioned the quality of the cloth being used for the uniforms, which they say lack accessories like a tie and belt.

Harpal Singh, father of a Class 2 girl student from Kotla Nihang village, said apart from the quality, the size of the uniform given to his daughter was an issue.

‘Centralised system to blame’

“Earlier, the vendor used to visit the school with uniforms and made alterations on the spot as per the requirement and provided the tie and belt,” he added.

A primary school teacher said currently a centralised system was being followed under which they provided measurement of students to district education officer through the block education officer. “The uniforms being provided are sub-standard and not as per the measurements,” said the teacher.

Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, president of the Government Teachers’ Union, claimed that the situation had risen because the department had discontinued the practice of involving school management committees.