Pakistan’s Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has issued dress code for male and female teachers of all educational institutes in Islamabad, drawing fierce reaction on social media. Jeans and tights have been banned during the duty hours and principals asked to ensure that their teaching and non-teaching staff maintain “personal hygiene”. Some Twitter users called it an attack on women’s autonomy, others compared the directive to Taliban diktats.
A letter in this regard was sent to the principals of schools and colleges by the director of academics on Monday, reported Dawn.
The letter asked principals to ensure that each staff member “observes reasonably good measures in their physical appearance and personal hygiene”.
It goes even further to describe such good measures as a regular haircut, beard trimming, nail cutting, shower and use of deodorant or perfume.
The letter has recommended a formal dress for female teachers and women staffers which includes ‘appropriate simple and decent” shalwar kameez, trouser, shirt with dupatta/shawl. The FDE has said that 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. Pakistan has also issued guidelines for footwear stating that only formal shoes (pumps, loafers and mules) and comfortable shoes (sneakers and sandals) can be worn. Wearing slippers has been prohibited.
A similar set of instructions has been issued for male teachers and staffers who have also been prohibited from wearing jeans. The letter, as per Dawn read, ‘Wear appropriate, simple and decent shalwar kameez preferably with a waistcoat in accordance with the weather conditions. Wear a dress shirt (full sleeves preferably with tie) and trousers (dress and cotton pants only). Wearing jeans is not allowed in any case.” For summers, male staffers have been allowed to wear a half sleeves dress shirt or a bush shirt but t-shirts of all types are not allowed. Wearing slippers has also been prohibited for male staffers.
This is not the first time an education body in Pakistan has issued such directives. In January and February this year, strict policies banning tight-fitted jeans, T-shirts and makeup was issued in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It was particularly meant for girl students to make them realise the culture and values of Islam. It had generated widespread criticism among the Pakistani youth that had questioned it for threatening their “personal freedom.”
Scores of users took to Twitter to express their disappointment over FDE’s guidelines, calling their priorities “insane”. Parallels were drawn with the Taliban’s action in Afghanistan. They felt as if they were going back in time and it was against the “progress” narrative which Pakistan has been espousing.
