Ahmedabad: With winter approaching, the Ahmedabad city district education officer (DEO) has issued guidelines prohibiting schools from enforcing strict rules about students' winter clothing choices and preventing mandatory purchases from specific vendors.
The academic term resumes after Diwali holidays on Nov 18, coinciding with dropping temperatures across the state. The Ahmedabad DEO has issued directives allowing pupils to wear winter clothing other than their prescribed uniforms.
Schools have been instructed not to enforce specific colours or styles of winter wear. Additionally, for schools where sweaters are part of the uniform, students cannot be compelled to purchase from designated shops.
The authorities have cautioned that non-compliance with these guidelines will result in penalties under the Right to Education Act 2009. Sources said that several prestigious schools in the city, particularly English-medium schools, regularly require students to purchase specific styles of sweaters from designated vendors. Despite previous advisories from the DEO's office, these practices persist annually.
While parents normally do not register formal complaints about such practices, the current directive encourages them to report violations directly to the DEO's office and promises strict action against the erring administrators.