Uniform Disgrace

Baku / 13.09.18 / Turan: The beginning of the school season is not far off, and many parents have already completed the training - school supplies, books, and school uniforms have been bought. However, some parents encountered an unexpected problem. In the schools, where their children study, they were told they should not buy the uniform, but should give a certain sum of money (no less than 100-110 manat) to have a special uniform sewn, or to go to a certain workshop for it. Here it is worth noting that the usual common school uniform costs 33-45 manat.

During the Soviet times, all schoolchildren were dressed in a school uniform, but with the fall of the Soviet Union, the form disappeared from schools, and the education departments began to resemble a podium for a fashion show. Gradually, such uncertainty began to arouse discontent, and the school uniform was decided to be returned.

The idea of ​​introducing uniform in the general schools of the country was put forward by the Baku City Education Department and supported by the Ministry of Education 10 years ago. The main goal of the return of the school uniform was to solve social inequality among students and establish discipline.

At the very beginning, the shape of the uniform, consisting of a jacket, vest, skirt / trousers and its quality, to put it mildly, did not cause delight in either parents or the students. Even during the sociological survey, 29% of respondents said that each school should have its own uniform, different from that sewed by the Baku garment factory. In principle, the desire of these respondents is not contrary to the law and since 2011 schools have been allowed to offer students a uniform themselves.

The pedagogical council of each school preliminary discusses the design of the uniform with the staff, and as a result the decision on a choice of the most optimum variant is accepted. This was stated to Turan IA by the expert on education Kamran Asadov.

According to him, the law does not prohibit parents from sewing a school uniform in accordance with accepted standards if they are not able to buy it: "However, no school director, and no one of the employees can force parents to purchase the product they offer or order it in the shops or factories cooperating with the school. The sketch of the form chosen by the school is given to the pupil's parents, and the latter in turn can purchase fabric and have it sewn in any place, in accordance with the sketch. The law strictly prohibits school employees from selling the school uniform or forcing the people to buy it in the place indicated by them. In the school"s administrative territory, the sale of uniforms to pupils and their parents is by no means permitted. However, unfortunately, the directors of some schools cooperate with sewing shops and force parents to buy uniforms from their partners. For each uniform purchased from the shop, a certain amount is paid to the school principal. This is a violation of the law, "Asadov said. It is impossible not to agree with the expert. At the moment we are seeing a completely different picture. Instead of easing the conditions for teaching students, which was why the school uniform was introduced, the leadership of several schools has introduced a uniform at a price of 100 manat.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Education, Jasarat Valehov, also told Turan that the general schools of Azerbaijan have the right to determine for their students the uniform that is peculiar to this institution only: "This is in accordance with the statute on the basis of the decision of the school's pedagogical council. They determine the color and shape of the uniform suitable for this school, after which these standards are applied to the students. As for the sale of the uniform in schools, this is unacceptable. Parents are free to choose the place of purchase of the school uniform, they can acquire it where they want, and no one has the right to interfere," the Ministry"s spokesman stressed.

It remains only to hope that the principals of schools will not violate the law, and the Ministry of Education will strictly monitor this. By the way, the Ministry of Education has a hot line at phone number 146, which can be accessed in case of violation of rights.