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Female teachers request saree-less dress code

02 Nov 2022

  • Letter sent by Ceylon Teachers’ Union to Education Ministry
  • Ministry to consider request favourably once received, while also considering schools’ discipline and code of conduct 
BY Buwanajee Coralage A letter addressed to Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nihal Ranasinghe has been submitted by the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) to include female teachers in the State administration circular number 05/2022 dated 27 September 2022, to relax and ease the dress code of female State-sector employees to a more relaxed attire, whilst maintaining the integrity and respect of female State officials. “As the circular that has been introduced does not apply to female schoolteachers, they have been restricted to wearing sarees and osaris. Taking into consideration the current economic situation in the country and the inconveniences caused by this dress code to teachers and their conduct in schools, we as the CTU request the inclusion of female teachers in the abovementioned circular,” the letter dated 31 October 2022 read. Furthermore, drawing on examples from more developed educational systems in the West, in countries like Poland, the letter highlighted that this relaxation of the dress code of female teachers has proven to be much more effective, and had cited examples of such attire. Teachers have long complained of the severe economic impact of this dress code, and the inconveniences of wearing sarees or osaris to school. With the rising prices of sarees due to inflation and the inconvenience caused by it to the teachers when using transport, especially during service in rural areas, the following request has been made to the Ministry of Education. When inquired about the matter, Ranasinghe told The Morning that he is not aware of the letter to date, but said that if such a request has been made by the teachers, it would be considered favourably, while also considering the discipline and code of conduct applicable to the local school system.  


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