School in soup over decree on uniform

Kolkata: Authorities of a private English medium school at Bolpur in Birbhum has been accused of forcing some students of primary section to take their leggings off, which they wore to keep themselves warm in the cold weather, as according to the school the garment was not a part of the school uniform.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee has expressed his concern over the matter and sought a report in the matter.

Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborty, Chairperson of state Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) sought a report from the District Magistrate (DM) of Birbhum regarding the incident.

According to the guardians, as the temperature in Bolpur has gone down by a few degrees, students wore leggings under their skirts to keep themselves warm.

It is alleged during the school hours, their class teacher scolded the students for wearing leggings, which she claimed did not adhere to the uniform prescribed by the school.

Later she reportedly informed the principal of the school.

The principal reportedly instructed the class teacher to get ask the students to take off their leggings.

It is alleged that following the instruction by the principal, the class teacher alleged asked the students to remove their leggings. When the guardians came to take their children home, they came to know about the incident.

School authorities claim that the students were wearing leggings, which are not included under the prescribed uniform of the school, and that was reason they were told to take it off.

Students were asked remove the leggings but they were not carrying anything woollen to keep them warm. They had to attend school braving the cold weather.

On Tuesday, a few guardians went to Shantinikatan police station where the principal also reportedly arrived to apologize about the incident.

Some of the guardians have even demanded removal of the principal.

On Tuesday, the Education minister expressed his concern over the matter and said: "I have instructed the Principal Secretary of Education department to look into the matter and report to me. If the allegations are found to be true, then strong action will follow."

According to Chakraborty the students were wearing stockings, which the class teacher asked them to take off, claiming that the garment was not a part of the school uniform.

She also protested against the bad behavior of principal.

She said: "As far as I came to know the girls were wearing stockings under their skirts of different colours which the school authorities did not

allow them to wear. They were asked to remove them in the bathroom. But the way principal behaved with the students was not acceptable. I have sought a report on this from the DM."