Students have often been faced with the daunting prospect of college managements enforcing dress codes. But now the tables have turned: Students may have a say in deciding what teachers can wear!
College principals have been asked to collate and submit the opinion of their students on whether teaching and non-teaching staff should adopt a dress code in the workplace. They will have to mail the answers to the Join Director of the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE).
In a circular issued last week, the department said introducing dress code would “bring in discipline” in colleges. It has proposed that faculty should also wear a name tag stating their designations.
The move has been severely criticised by faculty members, who are urging the government to immediately withdraw the circular. “If the department feels that there is a need to bring discipline into colleges, they should ask teachers and hold meetings with the association bearers rather than asking students for their opinion,” said H.C. Ramanna, secretary of the Karnataka Government College Teachers’ Association. The association is opposing the move.
Lecturers are befuddled as they were not consulted. “It’s a pity that the department did not even think of noting our own opinions. Shouldn’t they be more concerned about what we are comfortable with rather than taking a decision based on the whims and fancies of our students. They are trivialising our self-esteem by sending such a circular,” said a science faculty member of a government first grade college in the city. This has even drawn criticism from student organisations, who have decided to extend their support to the teachers’ association. Students Federation of India State secretary Gururaj Desai said the move would curb the freedom of teachers. “Whether it is dress code for students or faculty, we oppose the move as it takes away the autonomy of the individual. The government should focus on quality education, rather than on such matters,” he said.
Ajay Nagabhushan, Commissioner of DCE, said they would re-examine the order.
