Female teachers told not to wear jeans and tights in Islamabad

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) of Pakistan has asked female teachers not to wear jeans and tights and banned their male counterparts from wearing jeans and t-shirts.

All principals have been directed to ensure that their teaching and non-teaching staff (both male and female), ensure personal hygiene, including regular haircut, beard trimming, nail cutting and use of perfume.

Through a letter, the FDE directed the principals of schools and colleges to ensure implementation of the dress code and personal hygiene of the staff.

The letter said all heads of institutions/section in-charges must ensure that every staff member observes reasonably good measures in their physical appearance and personal hygiene.

This includes regular haircut, beard trimming, nail cutting, shower and use of deodorants/perfume. The letter said gatekeepers must always be in their recommended uniforms and all the support staff may also be allocated a uniform.

Explaining the dress code, the letter said all staff shall maintain formal dress code while in the institutions, premises and during official gatherings, ceremonies and meetings.

Female students seen during a break outside their university campus in Islamabad. File

"It is recommended that all teaching staff must wear teaching gowns while teaching in the class and lab coats while taking practical periods in laboratories,” the letter said, adding that the non-teaching staff must always maintain a presentable appearance in neat, clean and properly ironed clothes and appropriate shoes.

The letter recommended a formal dress for female, which includes: "Appropriate simple and decent shalwar kameez, trouser, shirt with dupatta/shawl. Purdah observing females are allowed to wear scarf/hijab while ensuring its clean and neat appearance. Wearing jeans and tights are not allowed in any case. Only formal shoes (pumps, loafers and mules) are allowed. Owing to long-standing hours during teaching, comfortable shoes like sneakers and sandals can be worn as well. But wearing slippers is not allowed at all.

During the winter season, coats, blazers as well as sweaters, jerseys, cardigans and shawls of decent colours and design are allowed.

A teacher interacts with a girl student. File

For male staff, the letter said: "Wear appropriate, simple and decent shalwar kameez preferably with a waistcoat in accordance with the weather conditions. Wear dress shirt (full sleeves preferably with tie) and trousers (dress and cotton pants only). Wearing jeans is not allowed in any case. During the summer, a half sleeves dress shirt or bush shirt can also be worn but t-shirts of all types are not allowed.

"Only formal shoes (dress shoes, loafers, moccasins and boots) must be worn and owing to longstanding hours during teaching comfortable shoes like sneakers and sandals can be worn as well. However, wearing slippers is not allowed at all,” the letter said.

It said for males, wearing shalwar kameez with waistcoat, pants and shirt with tie (preferably jacket/coat) was mandatory. For female, event-appropriate decent dress (shalwar kameez, trouser, shirt) with dupatta/shawl must be observed. "Fancy/party dresses in official gatherings/meetings are discouraged,” added the letter.