The Punjab government’s decision to relax the condition of uniforms in all schools of the city has given a paramount opportunity to students to dress up as they please when going to school. Parents, however, fear that the government’s decision may backfire, as they would have to bear the additional financial burden of ensuring their children have presentable – and suitably fashionable – clothing for school everyday.
The students’ excitement could be determined through the jubilant comments posted on various social networking sites. Although private schools have always been very particular about uniform restrictions, but due to the proactive attitude of the Punjab government towards dengue prevention, even private school administrations have had to relax the rules. Some private schools have asked students to wear uniforms at all cost – but students have other plans.
An A’ levels student at the Lahore College of Arts and Science (LACAS) said he had huge plans for the whole month, and described how the situation could be moulded around to suit his own tastes. “I’ll have the perfect opportunity to flaunt my head gear collection, and will sport a different fancy cap each day in order to ‘protect’ myself from the dangerous mosquitoes,” he said.
A majority of the students in public schools, however, come from humble homes and feel this rule would press on their families’ already lean resources. Earlier, the Punjab government lifted the restriction of uniforms for students in the educational institutions of the provincial metropolis and other areas affected by dengue virus, and made wearing of full-sleeved shirts and socks mandatory to protect children against mosquitoes, for a month.
Parents appreciated the intention behind the government’s decision, however, they were apprehensive about the negative impacts such a decision could have, particularly of children developing inferiority complexes, as one of the reasons for the implementation of uniforms in schools was to have uniformity and negate discrimination amongst students. With the abolition of the rule, children would be exposed to such discrimination on a regular basis, which could have an adverse affect on their performance at school, and more importantly, their self-esteem.
Nadia, a mother of two, said the relaxation in school timings would ease the parents’ responsibilities, however, their troubles would be increased manifold with the abolition of uniforms from schools.
