People reacted very adversely to the decision of the Sindh government to change the colour of school uniform to blue. A large number of parents of school going children, who are admitted in government schools, have said the introduction of new uniform for school children will increase burden on parents, who are already groaning under inflation. Many parents maintain that the government took decision on school uniform without finding out the opinion of parents or appreciating their difficulties.
They maintain that they shall have to go in for two sets of uniform for each school going child.
One man, who works with a dairy firm in Karachi and has four school going children, said the capital expenditure on eight sets of uniform for his four children will mean an expenditure of at least Rs4000. He said he does not have the money but will have to borrow it.
A mother, who is a widow and is sending three of her children to government school in Jacob Lines area, said she earns her livelihood and ration for her three kids by working in three flats in Jacob Lines. She just cannot afford to buy new uniforms as are being introduced by the Sindh education department for school going children.
The cost for the acquisition of new school uniforms for school going children will run into several hundred million of rupees for the already cash-strapped middle- and poor-class families in the province.
They appealed to the President, the Prime Minister, Sindh Governor, Chief Minister and the Education Minister to withdraw the decision of changing school uniform.