Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Jun 8: Several students of Vishwa Bharti Higher Secondary School in Rainawari area of Srinagar held a protest against the school authorities on Thursday for allegedly not being allowed to enter the premises wearing ‘Abaya’.
One of the protesting students said that they were not allowed to enter the school premises wearing ‘Abaya’ following an order from the school principal.
She said that the principal asked the students not to enter the school premises with ‘Abaya’ and now she is changing her statement.
The students alleged that the school authorities have started co-education in the school despite being a girls institution. “We want the authorities to fix dress code for us.”
Meanwhile, principal of the school told KNO that even though the school has its own dress code and some girls also wear ‘Abaya’, but they have never been stopped.
“Yesterday, I informed teachers to ask those students not to wear Abaya in the school premises but they can come in Abaya until they reach school premises in order to maintain decorum.”
She said added that there is no higher authority involved in it but “I believe a proper dress code which every where is being followed shall be followed here as well.”
“We will announce a proper colour and pattern of ‘Abaya’ for all those students who want come to school wearing the same. We are not allowing colourful Abayas to be followed in the institution” she said.
In the meantime, the school principal in a statement has said “That it has been running on the social media that female students have been directed not to wear Abaya (Long Robe) which is totally baseless and misrepresented. The School Management always respects the sentiments of all the sections of the society visa vis the dress code.”
“It is clarified that no ban has been imposed by the School Principal or the Management on wearing Abaya but it was politely conveyed to the students to wear School Uniform underneath the Abaya,” reads the statement.
The principal in a statement that students can wear the Abaya and no such restrictions have been imposed in the classrooms.
“Today’s conversation with the students and the parents has been misrepresented and in any case if it has hurt the sentiments of the students or the parents, I unconditionally apologize for the same,” it reads.
Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar said, “The matter has come into my notice and I have asked the principal of the school about it.”
“The principal has only asked the students to wear proper uniforms and beneath they can wear Abaya in order to maintain the uniformity and I don’t think that there is anything wrong in asking the students to maintain the decorum,” Kumar said.
He said that the principal of Vishwa Bharti Higher Secondary School has also clarified that there was no restriction on wearing the Abaya in school.
