Mumbai: Govt school students may start the year without uniforms, no clarity say teachers
This year, students from classes 1 to 8 in government schools will get two sets of uniforms per student
3 min read
SMCs have refused the responsibility stating that it cannot be done in the Rs.100 per uniform policy given by the state. (File Photo)Students from government schools across Maharashtra are likely to start a new academic year without school uniforms. While the government is going to provide only one uniform which is expected to be delayed; it has asked School Management Committees (SMCs) to provide another at the local levels. However, the SMCs have refused the responsibility stating that it cannot be done in the Rs.100 per uniform policy given by the state.
Maharashtra’s ‘one state-one uniform’ policy is marred with controversy for the second year in a row with no clarity on when uniforms will reach government schools with merely four days left for schools to start the new academic year on June 15.
This year, students from classes 1 to 8 in government schools will get two sets of uniforms per student. As per a circular issued by the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad (MPSP), the state will provide one set of the uniform which students have to wear three days a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Whereas another set of ‘Scout and Guide’ uniforms to be worn on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will have to be arranged by local SMCs. Since the government is going to provide clothing for the second set, SMCs according to the MPSP circular, will be given Rs.100 per uniform for stitching. But the SMCs have objected to the arrangement stating it is too little an amount to manage the expenditure on stitching.
A state-wide teachers’ organisation, Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Samiti (MRPSS) has written a letter to MPSP seeking clarity on uniforms. Apart from stating that the SMCs refuse to take up the task of arranging a second set of uniform, the letter also points out delay in another set of uniform which state is going to provide, because no work on taking measurements has begun in any school across state.
According to SMCs, the state’s amount of Rs.100 could be an affordable rate for stitching for Mahila Aarthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) – State’s Women Development Corporation which is going to stitch uniforms for the state. “They will stitch uniforms for students across the state. With a massive order like that they might afford this rate. But at local levels, this is impossible. Thus, instead of asking SMCs, the government should provide both uniforms,” said Vijay Kombe from MRPSS while also pointing out that the schools are anyway going to face the possibility of uniforms stitched by the government which may not have proper measurements.
The SMCs which used to provide school uniforms in the past would get Rs. 300 per uniform when it included making all arrangements starting from cloth. Pramodkumar Dange, project director for MPSP, Maharashtra, said, “But now they only have to do stitching in Rs.100 which is the same amount given to MAVIM for stitching. Intention to include SMCs was to ensure that with two bodies working on uniforms they will reach students sooner.” Dange added that MPSP will discuss with SMCs to understand their issues.
Meanwhile, the state’s school education department on Monday issued a Government Resolution (GR) reiterating the particulars of Scout and Guide uniforms which SMCs have to provide.
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