An association of school heads has written to the chief minister alleging that a large number of students have not received their uniforms through the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) department.
Apart from some schools in Kolkata at the primary level, uniforms have not reached a large number of institutions, the Advanced Society for Headmasters and Headmistresses has written in their letter mailed to chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday.
The schools will close for the Puja vacation soon.
Several secondary schools in Kolkata have not received uniforms, said the heads.
The letter, signed by Chandan Maity, headmaster of Krishnachandrapur High School in Mathurapur, South 24-Parganas, and general secretary of the association, says: “Till date the uniforms have not reached students who study in schools and madrasas across the districts. The Puja vacation will start in a few days’ time…. Students have been almost deprived of their uniforms. We are looking forward to your intervention so the uniforms are delivered to schools immediately.”
The government had issued an SOP in February saying ready-made uniforms for students from pre-primary to Class VIII at government and aided schools would be delivered by the MSME department by mid-June. Earlier, funds were transferred to the schools for procurement of uniforms.
Supriya Panja, headmaster of the Park Institution in Shyambazar, said they had not yet received uniforms.
A teacher at Sanskrit Collegiate School on College Street said they were yet to receive the uniforms. Some students have untied the seams of their trousers so they can wear them.
“We heard that instructions were sent by Nabanna so the uniforms could be delivered by mid-September. But we have not received them,” said the head of another government school. Calls and text messages to education minister Bratya Basu went unanswered.
The Kolkata District Primary Council had delivered uniforms bearing the Biswa Bangla logo to several primary schools in late July.