Uniforms related draft generates hopes for reopening of girls schools

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Education (MoE) has introduced a draft regarding uniforms for school students — boys, girls — and teacher from class one to 12^th and shared the document with relevant department.

Last year in March, the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ (IEA) barred girls students above class sixth from attending the school and said a strategy was being worked out on the bases of which girls would be allowed to attend schools.

A reliable source of the MoE, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News that a draft regarding the uniform had been completed for the boys and girls schools students and sent to the relevant authorities in the ministry for comment.

According to the source, the newly-made draft about uniforms was confirmed by the relevant department.

Mustafa Ghazni High School principal Satayesh Hashimi also shared the draft on her Facebook page.

The copy of this draft also circulated in social media which is comprised of five chapters containing 13 articles in Pashto and Dari languages.

The purpose of introducing uniform for schools students was to promote discipline, the sprite of learning and obeying the law, eradication wealth difference among the students and differentiating students from other people.

Referring to the specialties of religious uniform it was said that uniform should not be tight, narrow, it should be similar to the uniform of opposite sex and the uniform would be applicable on the students of private and government schools equally.

Male students’ uniform

Article five of the draft said that male students uniform is comprise of Shalwar Kameez fit to the body size of each student the length of Kameez should exceed from the knees.

Referring to the color of male uniform, article second of the draft said that from class one till sixth the color of the uniform is blue and from class seventh till 12^th the color of male uniform is pistachio green.

Male students of madrassas will wear Shalwar Kameez with a white cap and the uniform will be steel color.  Madrasas students from class 7^th will have to white color uniform with white turban.

In addition, article second said male students of Teacher Training Institutes will have to wear navy color uniform.

Female students’ uniform

Article sixth of the draft said that female students uniform is comprised of Shalwar Kameez and Shall with specialties described by the Sharia Law. The uniform will fit the sized of every student and reflect upon the culture of Afghan society.

The length of Kameez skirt will go down the knees. The color of uniform for students from class one to sixth will be light yellow and their shall will be white color.

The color of female students from class 7^th to 12^th will be teal with black color shall and their Shalwar Kameez will be sewed from same color cloth.

Teachers’ uniform

Article eight of the draft said that the uniform of general teachers, teachers of NGOs and teachers of education ministry’s institutions was national clothes and the uniform of teachers for religious institutions was also national clothes which should be in line with the principles of Sharia.

Article ninth of the draft said that the uniform of all teachers was local shalwar Qamez and shall in line with Sharia Law.

Article second of the draft said that female teachers must wear Jijab while commuting and could use mask as well. Female teachers and students are urged to wear simple and flat shoes.

Additional clothes

Article 10^th of the draft said that in case of cold weather, teachers and students could wear additional warm clothes such as jacket, scarf and warm cap.

It said that narrow weskit matching the color of uniform and wearing white cap for the students of general schools depended on their own choice.

Banned clothes

Article 11 of the draft said that clothes without necessity are additional and not allowed for students.

Article second and third of the draft said that short shalwar and trouser are not allowed for female teachers, wearing ties is also not allowed for students and teachers.

Article 12^th of the draft director of the educational institutions is tasked to ensure the implementation of matters related to the uniform and urged the student to ensure cleanliness of their clothes.

The draft said that if the student did not wear the uniform without solid reason then he will be advised to wear the uniform and in the case of continued violation the matter will be shared with the parents of the student.

Zabihullah Farooqi, the resident of Maidan Shahr City, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Fair uniform has been introduced to teachers and students, it is Islamic and in line to Afghani culture. The introduction of uniform for girls above class 6^th generated hope for the reopening of girls schools as well.”

Rehana, the student of 10^th class from Kabul’s Qabal Bai area, said the draft made students hopeful that girls’ schools above class 6^th will be opened as well.

So far there were talks and no practical effort was being taken to address the issue.

sh/nh