Agartala: The circular issued by headmaster of Kanchanpur higher secondary school in North Tripura advising the female teachers to wear a good looking dress while coming to school has triggered mixed reaction across the state while educationists demanded a state wide dress code for the educational institutions. According to headmaster of the school B B Chakma, the guardians of the locality have been objecting the dresses of some female teachers working in different schools of Kanchanpur for past few months. The matter was discussed at various levels how to deal with such sensitive issue like female dress.
The teachers associations were also informed the matter seeking its solution. The local officials of the education department were also informed the matter from the guardians of the locality when they claimed of feeling an unwise and unwritten dress competition among a section of female teachers in Kanchapur, he stated. “I am also not in favour of putting restriction on someone’s dress but I feel dress code for every individual is essential and for teachers it is most important for development of the personality of the students. The advisory issued to the teachers both male and female to wear good looking, polite and self-disciplined dress,” Chakma said. He mentioned that before issuing the circular, he had discussion with all concerned and utmost measures have been taken so that it should not hurt anybody’s sentiment or personality. And it seems that the teachers of the school accepted it and appreciated the decision. At least 40 female teachers were posted six different schools of Kanchanpur, bordering town of Mizoram and most of them wear odd dress while going to school that created several problems in localities but there was option to intervene it, alleged Sukumal Baruah, a businessmen of the town.
He experienced in past few months some young people have been gathering in different corners of the town during school hours. It was believed instigating dress of some female teachers has influenced them, which may turn further odd and dangerous and the decision of the headmaster of a school is really worthy. Rathindra Debnath, a guardian argued, if the education department specified uniform for the students it is necessary to ensure a dress code for the teachers.
whatever the government feels appropriate and dissent, but an unethical completion among the teachers on dress in the school has a negative impact on the pupil too. However, Pratima Saha working on women issues in North Tripura in NGO sector criticised the circular and opined that “good looking and odd looking” doesn’t have accepted definition and the problem what the headmaster and the guardians stated it was something like finishing a house without foundation. “If young people gathered implausibly just to see the dress of female teachers, the guardians must go to police and ensure that the social evils to be booked under law. If headmaster feels dress of a particular teacher, whoever he or she that creates problems in running the school he may tell that teacher for correction.
But an official order from an authority in this regard in 21st century is not accepted,” She stated. On the other, leading feminist and Coordinator of Women Study Centre of Tripura University Prof Chandrika Basu Manjumdar suggested that the state government can designate dress code for it’s all levels of employees not only for the teachers or female staff. “I personally feel dress code is important for educational institutions and public offices for better output. The sporadic circular by a particular authority may lead to controversy, but the government considering the posts and position of a person must issue a specific dress code,” Prof Basu Majumdar stated. Dr Swapan Mukharjee, a veteran academician contemplated for uniform for the teachers, but what to be the dress that has to be decided after public debate considering weather, communication means, affordability and socio-economic and cultural condition of the state or locality. Director Secondary Education U K Chakma however, said, “We have not thought of this issue so far. But I personally feel sober and dissent dress of teachers has positive impact on the students.” (UNI)
