Kolkata: The white-and-blue colour of state school uniforms and state school buildings did not need to change, provided the ‘Biswa-Bangla’ logo was removed, state school education minister Dipak Barman clarified on Thursday at Bikash Bhavan.“If a school has a traditional white-and-blue uniform, they do not need to change it but the ‘Biswa Bangla’ logo must go. The same applies to the color of school buildings. If they want to keep the blue-and-white color, they can, a change in colour is not mandatory,” Barman said.The state school education department recently conducted a survey, in which schools were asked to submit their preferred uniform colours and monograms. In 2022, the previous govt made white-and-blue uniforms mandatory for all students from pre-primary up to class 8 in state schools. The former administration had assigned the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) department to provide the textiles for the clothes, and the logo was stitched onto the pocket of every uniform.In Jan 2018, the previous govt had made it compulsory for state schools to paint their buildings white and blue and sanctioned Rs 500.4 crore for the work. Pointing out that state schools did not need to change their building colours, Barman said, “School authorities may decide on the building’s colour, according to the institutions’ tradition.”Under the earlier govt, boys from pre-primary to class 8 received one pair of shorts and one full-sleeve shirt, while girls from pre-primary to class 2 received two sets of shirts and tunic frocks, those in classes 3 to 5 received two sets of shirts and skirts and those in classes 6 to 8 received two sets of salwar kameez and two dupattas.Department officials are working on finalising the school uniform colours before the start of the new academic session next Jan. While the former govt assumed full financial responsibility for providing uniforms to students up to class 8 using state funds alone, the current govt is keen on securing the Centre’s financial share to run the scheme. The department has called back the remaining stock of uniforms from schools. A new order will be placed with the MSME department shortly so that uniforms are ready ahead of the new academic session.
