The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government on Saturday issued a dress code for school teachers in Assam, saying it had become “necessary” as some teachers did not dress in a way “acceptable by public at large”.
Issuing a notification to schools, the Department of School Education barred “casual clothes” like t-shirts and jeans for both male and female teachers, in addition to leggings for female teachers.
“It has come to the notice o the undersigned that some teachers of educational institutions are found in the habit of wearing the dress of their choice which sometimes does not appear to be acceptable by public at large,” the notification read.
The government made it mandatory for teachers to wear formal clothes to school. For men, it is now compulsory to wear formal shirt and pant, while women teachers have been asked to stick to salwar-suit, saree and mekhala-chador (traditional Assamese attire).
The notice also clarified the need to dress in “clean, modest and decent clothes” and in sober colours that “should not look flashy”.
“Since a teacher is expected to be an example of all sorts of decency especially while discharging their duties, it has become necessary to follow a dress code that should reflect a sense of decorum, decency, professionalism and seriousness of purpose at the work place” it stated.
