Published: 12:24 AM, 30 May 2021

https://dailyasianage.com/news/262759/action-of-competition-commission-on-school-dress-sales

Action of Competition Commission on school dress sales

M S Siddiqui

Dress is an expression of self and makes a statement of who one. There is a global debate whether a school code go against freedom of expression. The issue of young people's dress and what they wear to school has been a long-standing issue in many countries. In the western world, the compulsory rule to wear school uniforms or be subjected to a rigid dress code would seem to have their fundamental rights invaded, and would appear to be arbitrarily coerced for no good reason. It is believed to be one's right to choose to dress as one wishes but there should be only two 'limitations' on dressing as one pleases, namely not to dress in a way which provokes immoral behaviour and, secondly, not to deliberately offend those with whom one associates. There is hardly any debate about school dress in Bangladesh but a recent decision of single source of supply of dress to Viqarunnisa School and College has drawn a letter attention about the school dress. In modern western world where school uniform is widely adopted by state schools and generally supported by national and local governments, although there is no legislation governing school uniform in those countries. There are some independent schools and state schools that do not have school uniforms. Their pupils are at liberty to dress in a way considered to be appropriate by the school, themselves and their parents or guardians. In USA, there different practice and convention of school uniform and there are many decision of court particularly in USA regarding school dress whether school dress violate the freedom of expressions. Some of the countries have non-statutory guidance from the Department for Education relating to best practice on developing school uniform policy. A Canadian court ruling stated that the wearing of the school uniform did not violate the applicant's freedom of expression. However, in the same year, the court provided a contradictory decision involving religious dress, by stating those school uniform violated Shikh religious dress requirements. In the Competition Commission Court of another country, where the school insisted on their uniform being strictly adhered to, regardless of their pupils racial, cultural, economic or social backgrounds, the Commission ruled that not allowing a Muslim child to dress in accordance with religious requirements to wear long pants, was unacceptable discrimination against the boy concerned. Thus issues of religion and culture impact on school dress.

https://dailyasianage.com/news/262759/action-of-competition-commission-on-school-dress-sales

Dress code and school dress often used interchangeably, although there is a distinction between those garments. The are many opinions about school dress. It can be regarded as promoting social equality among students but have also been criticised for promoting a form of uniformity characteristic of militarism. A school uniform is a uniform worn by students primarily for a school or otherwise educational institution. School uniforms are mandatory in all public and private schools (up to 12th standard) in Bangladesh. While the color and exact cut of the uniform depend on school regulations and policies, male students in Bangladesh are usually wear full/half sleeve shirts with trousers and female students wear skirts- pants or salwar- kameez with belts and dupattas. The rationale behind the uniform policy of Bangladesh is that the authorities want to protect the students from class stratification that can become apparent when students are given the choice to dress as they like. In addition, authorities believe that students should not misuse their time in trying to dress up for school. A dress code is much less restrictive, and focuses on promoting modesty and discouraging anti-social fashion. A dress code would be not allowing ripped clothing, no logos or limiting the amount of skin that can be shown. On the other hand, School Dress can only be considered a uniform when (a) serves as a group emblem, (b) certifies an institution's legitimacy by revealing individual's relative positions and (c) suppresses individuality. Although school uniforms can often be considered conservative and old-fashioned, uniforms in recent years have changed as societal dress codes have changed. There are many theories and empirical studies on school uniforms in other countries. The outcome of studies and theories elaborate on the benefits and also the shortcomings of uniform policies. The issue of nature vs. nurture comes into play, as uniforms affect the perceptions of masculinity and femininity, over-simplify issues of gender classification, and work to channel, subdue or punish the sexuality of female, male, transgender and intersex. Uniforms bring a variety of pros, cons, and major legal implications and controversies (Wikipedia). One of the criticisms of uniforms is that it imposes standards of masculinity and femininity from a young age. Uniforms are considered a form of discipline that schools use to control student behavior and often promote conventional gendered dress. Boys often are required to wear trousers, belts, and closed-toe shoes and have their shirts tucked in at all times. They are also often required to have their hair cut short. There is an opinion that the uniform is associated with the dress of a professional Executive, which, they claim, gives boys at a young age the impression that masculinity is gained through business success. For girls, many uniforms promote femininity by requiring girls to Salwar and Kameej in our country but Skarts in many countries. Skirts are seen by some critics as a symbol of femininity because they restrict movement and force certain ways of sitting and playing. Some girls' school uniforms have been criticized as having an uncomfortable design, which prevents girls from freedom of movement and exposes girls to cold during winter. It is agreed in our society that, dress policies aim at promoting good behaviour and discipline amongst the pupil body. No school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice, due to the cost of the uniform. School governing bodies should therefore give high priority to cost considerations. The governing body should be able to demonstrate how best value has been achieved and keep the cost of supplying the uniform under review. Some religions and beliefs require their adherents to conform to a particular dress code, or to otherwise outwardly manifest their belief. This could include wearing or carrying specific religious

artefacts, not cutting their hair, dressing modestly, or covering their head. Pupils have the right to manifest a religion or belief, but not necessarily at all times, places or in a particular manner. Where a school has good reason for restricting an individual's freedoms, for example, the promotion of cohesion and good order in the school, or genuine health and safety or security considerations, the restriction of an individual's rights to manifest their religion or belief may be justified. The school must balance the rights of individual pupils against the best interests of the school community as a whole. Nevertheless, it should be possible for most religious requirements to be met within a school uniform policy and a governing body should act reasonably through consultation and dialogue in accommodating these. The decision as to whether to implement school uniform policy or not is a controversial one and also polarised in societies and countries. The policy makers have framed law and policy of school dress and debate is going on school dress. Bangladesh constitution has protection of expression of freedom but that expression of freedom has different interpretation on the basis of local culture and religious obligation. There is no law or rule of school dress from regulating authority. The educational institution frame their rule of school dress only to differentiate the institutions from others. Parents in Bangladesh have complain of price and quality of school dress supplied by single shop or supplier selected by school authorities in an opaque manner. The school uniform should be easily available for parents to purchase and schools should seek to select items that can be purchased cheaply, for example in a supermarket or other good value shop. parents do not enjoy any choice on price, quality and source of purchase. In particular, schools need to understand that the distinct identity of the school may still be conferred even by means of less complex uniforms. The recent action of Competition Commission to punish a single supplier of Viqarunnisa School and Collage. The Commission only warned the School authority not to have such practice in future. It attract minor attention of the media but the there is no reaction among the social leaders. M S Siddiqui, Legal Economist. e-mail: mssiddiqui2035@gmail.com