Old uniforms! So what?

Khadiza Begum and Golam Mostafa were all smiles yesterday.

The class-4 students of Umarshah Teraratan Government Primary School in Sylhet city were handed new sets of textbooks in the morning as part of the “Textbook Festival Day”.

Though they were wearing old uniforms, those shone even brighter than new ones.

The textbook festival was held on Tuesday, the first day of new year, when students of primary and secondary grades were given a new set of textbook. But for Khadiza and Golam, the day did not turn out joyous.

They had to return home empty-handed for apparently wearing their old uniforms, since the school authorities had instructed all the students to wear new clothes as part of the festivity.

As shocking as it may sound, the incident apparently took place due to a misunderstanding, according to students and the school authorities.

On January 1 morning, the duo, who lived at a nearby slum, went to the school like all other children. They were wearing old uniforms as their parents, who work as day labourers, were unable to buy them new ones.

When they stood in line for the textbooks, some of their classmates informed them that the school authorities had instructed all to wear new clothes to attend the festival and they might not get textbooks for not following the instruction.

Disheartened, the two left the school ground.

“The incident happened due to a misunderstanding,” Ruksana Begum, headteacher of the school, told this correspondent yesterday.

The school authorities had requested students to wear new uniforms during the festival, but they provided textbooks to all that day, including those who could not afford new ones, she said.

This correspondent also spoke to Khadiza and Golam yesterday when they were being given the new textbooks.

“I came to the school wearing my old uniform and some other students told me that the teacher won't give me new textbooks without a new uniform, so I left with Khadiza,” said Golam Mostafa.

Khadiza nodded smilingly as she held the textbooks tight against her chest.

The headteacher continued, “The primary education department is promoting school uniforms for all, and we are following that policy. As the book festival is a joyous occasion, our teachers requested the students to wear new clothes.”

“Most of our students are from nearby slums and we understand they might face problem buying new uniforms, so we provided textbooks to all who were present that day,” she added.

“Khadiza and Golam were misinformed by other students and they left without asking any teacher whether they will get textbooks or not,” the headteacher said.

Mohammad Ustar Miah, president of the school management committee, said more than 60 percent students of the school are from poor families and they provide new clothes to many of them.

Roman Miah and Dipika Roy, assistant education officers of Sylhet Sadar upazila, visited the school yesterday and spoke to the two students and teachers. They also said misunderstanding led to the situation.

Abdul Muntakim, additional deputy primary education officer of Sylhet, said the department is trying to promote school uniforms for all but that does not mean students will be deprived of new textbooks for not having new clothes on Textbook Festival Day.

While visiting the school yesterday, he said, “A misunderstanding took place, which was unexpected. Teachers should remain more aware as this type of mix-up could mar the festival.”