In a society where gender discrimination is very much a reality, efforts to smash gender stereotypes would be a tough task. But, Lower Primary School in Kerala took a brave step to implement a gender-neutral uniform.
In Valayanchirangara, the LP School in Ernakulam district, a government School, the timely intervention of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) led to the adoption of gender-neutral uniforms. The school PTA has decided that both boys and girls should wear shirts and trousers, ensuring their free movement.
On the national level, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had put out suggestions to sensitise teachers about transgender students. In these suggestions, NCERT noted the creation of gender-neutral toilets in schools, promoting gender-neutral uniforms and mixed rows of students (girls and boys). However, they had to withdraw it following the protests from a few teachers’ organisations.
The majority of the schools in Kerala, also across the country, have different uniform codes for boys and girls. Girls usually have skirts and shirts or salwar suits. Many have already pointed out that these kinds of uniforms restrict the free movement of girl students.
The LP School also had the usual skirts and top uniforms for girls till 2019. In this school, several girls refused to take part in sports and physical activities fearing their skirts would be blown by the wind. This led the school authorities and parents to reconsider the uniform for girls.
“On sports day held in 2019, many girl students were unable to take part in the events and the teachers noticed it. Though some of them participated in the first round, they refused to enter the ground for the second round. When we inquired about this, they opened up that they feel uncomfortable with the uniforms,” school principal-in-charge Suma KP was quoted as saying.
“All parents and students supported the decision to switch the uniform from frock and skirt to three-fourth pants. First, the change was introduced in pre-primary and then it was implemented in all classes from 1 to 4. The children were happy as they don’t need to bother about the uniform anymore,” said C Raji, former principal.
When they decided to change the uniform, a practical problem arose. The government’s uniform cloth for free was not sufficient to stitch the three-fourth pants. But, the parents were ready to bear the extra cost to be part of significant change. The school authorities said many other schools had approached Valayanchirangara LP School to know more about the uniform change.
Shashi Tharoor, a member of parliament from Kerala, said that the girl students should have the freedom to choose the uniform according to their comfort and not be bound by the school rules. The girls should have multiple choices like the skirt, half saree, churidar and trousers and be allowed to wear what makes them feel confident. Also, they should not be forced to wear pants, Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi reported Tharoor as saying.
The state minister for higher education R Bindu opined that the system of different uniforms for different genders should end. We have to follow a uniform pattern that suits our climate. Many engineering institutes have already implemented gender-neutral uniforms. This will help develop a feeling that everyone is equal and gradually leads to gender equality as well, she added.
