Kolkata: Blue and white may no longer be the mandatory school uniform colours for govt and govt-aided schools, according to discussions held in a recent internal meeting of the school education department. Following a new survey initiated by the department, schools have been asked to submit their preferred uniform colours and monograms.A recent order issued by the school education department directed all district inspectors to conduct a survey to assess each school’s requirement for different fabrics and colour varieties — specifically those used before the 2022 academic year. Speaking on the matter, several school heads highlighted that over the last four years, govt orders provided no option to choose uniform colours, as the colour scheme had been strictly fixed.In March 2022, the former state govt made a white-and-blue uniform mandatory, complete with the Biswa Bangla logo, for all students from pre-primary up to class 8. The former administration had tasked the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) department with manufacturing the textiles for these clothes, and the logo was stitched onto the pocket of every uniform.Under that previous order, boys from pre-primary to class 8 received one pair of shorts and one full-sleeved shirt. Girls from pre-primary to class 2 received two sets of shirts and tunic frocks; those in classes 3-5 received two sets of shirts and skirts; and those in classes 6-8 were given two sets of salwar kameez and two dupattas.However, the recent meeting in the school education department focused on restoring the original school uniform colours that were used prior to 2022. The headmaster of a Kolkata school said, “The colour of a uniform carries the legacy of the institution. In 2022, when the former state govt decided to introduce a uniform colour for every school affiliated with the state board, they stopped funding the school dresses of institutions that opposed the mandate. Because we refused to follow the mandate back then, our students have had to buy their uniforms from outside vendors for the last four years. Now, we are preparing our data, including the number of students and the measurements for different age groups.”School education department officials pointed out that before 2022, school uniforms were provided to female students, and students under reserved categories, using funds from the Sarva Shiksha Mission. Rs 600 was allotted per student, with 60% funded by the central govt and 40% by the state govt. The former state govt assumed full financial responsibility for providing school uniforms to state school students up to class 8 using state funds. Now, the current state govt is working to secure the central govt’s financial share to run the scheme smoothly.
