MITHI, Jan 19: The teachers of Tharparkar district have been directed by the district education officials to wear a white Shalwar qamiz, black boots, a waist coat, and cap as their uniform during the school hours.

Some teachers told Dawn that being low-paid, they were finding it difficult to buy these things. They appealed to the Sindh minister and secretary, education, to sanction Rs5000 per year per teacher as uniform allowance or to issue directives to the officers of education department in Tharparkar district not to make it mandatory for teachers to wear the uniform.

Scores of teachers, who thronged a market of second-hand articles to purchase used shoes, waist coat and cap, told Dawn that they had been warned by the district education officers of strict disciplinary action in case of non-compliance of orders pertaining to the school uniform.

A senior teacher, who did not like to be named, said that he was selling his goat to buy the uniform.

Two other teachers said that having no alternative, a good number of poor teachers were willing to obtain loan at high interest rate to buy the uniform but no money lender was ready to give loans to them owing to growing tension of war.

When contacted, Prof Abdul Majeed Hur, the executive district officer, education, said that teaching was a noble profession and a teacher ought to be in a befitting dress during the school hours.

Replying to a query, he said that the high ups of the Sindh education had not issued any order to compel the teachers to wear uniform and they had been directed to do so by the local officials.