Pakistan’s education directorate issues dress code, bans male, female teachers from wearing jeans

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), which oversees educational institutes in Islamabad, on Monday asked women teachers not to wear jeans and tights and restricted men from wearing jeans and t-shirts, local media reported. 
This is not the first time that an education body has issued such a dress code in Pakistan, a conservative nation of roughly 220 million. 
In January-February this year, two universities in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had issued strict dress code policies, banning tight-fitted jeans, T-shirts and makeup among other things. 
The move by Hazara University in Mansehra and Bacha Khan University in Charsadda drew widespread criticism on social networking websites, with scores of people and rights activists questioning individual freedoms in the country. 
In a similar move, the FDE on Monday directed heads of educational institutes to ensure their teaching and non-teaching staff followed the dress code and personal hygiene, including regular haircut, beard trimming, nail cutting and the use of perfume, the Daily Dawn newspaper reported. 
“All heads of institutions/section in-charges shall ensure that every staff member observes reasonably good measures in their physical appearance and personal hygiene,” the report quoted from the FDE letter. 
The letter asked all staff to maintain a formal dress code while in the institutions, on premises and during official gatherings, ceremonies and meetings. 
“It is recommended that all teaching staff must wear teaching gown while teaching in the class and lab coats while taking practical periods in laboratories,” it said.  
“Appropriate simple and decent shalwar qameez, trouser, shirt with dupatta/shawl. Purdah observing females are allowed to wear scarf/hijab while ensuring its clean and neat appearance. Wearing of jeans and tights are not allowed in any case,” the FDE recommended for women staff in its letter. 
“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 of slippers is not allowed at all.” 
During the winter season, coats, blazers as well as sweaters, jerseys, cardigans and shawls of decent colors and design were allowed, it said, adding, “Fancy/party dresses in official gatherings/meetings are discouraged.” 
For male staff, the letter recommended wearing “appropriate, simple and decent” shalwar qameez preferably with 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,” it said. 
“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 of slippers is not allowed at all.” 
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a teacher told Dawn that in many institutions under the FDE, particularly in colleges, there were many PhD degree-holding teachers, who along with other teaching and non-teaching staff were now supposed to observe regular haircut, nail cut, besides using perfume. 
“Instructions related to hair and nail cuts should be for students, not for teachers,” he said. “It is strange, however, I personally support the instruction related to the dress code.” 
When contacted, an FDE director said the letter was issued with a good intention. “It is the responsibility of teachers to observe a proper dress code as they are a role model for students,” he was quoted as saying. 
Asked about hair and nail cut, he said teaching and non-teaching staff was only “sensitized” through the letter. 
“There is no doubt about it that a positive impression ultimately imposes a positive learning atmosphere and creates a long-lasting impression in students’ mind,” the official said.  
“Therefore, the need was felt to reiterate the importance of the dress code and the professional attire of the education sector staff.”