Students have grown taller by a few inches over the past two years and many of them turned up in schools in casual attire as they no longer fit into their old uniforms.
The parents of many students had to get the seam of the children’s trousers untied so they would wear them to school.
The state government’s decision on Monday to allow resumption of classes in schools for students from the pre-primary level to Class VII from Wednesday caught many guardians unawares as they did not get the time to have age-appropriate uniforms prepared.
Krishnangshu Bose, a Class III student of Sanskrit Collegiate School in north Kolkata, came after untying the seam of his trousers. The dress was made when Krishnangshu, a resident of Kadamtala in Howrah, was in Class I.
Now, the trousers reach just a few inches below his knees.
His mother Sushmita Bose said it was difficult to get a new uniform made in such a short period.
“The seam was untied to let the trousers grow in length somewhat. The adjustment had to be made as we were caught unawares by the sudden announcement. We will soon get a new uniform made,” said Sushmita Bose, who accompanied Krishnangshu.
His classmate Debanshu Adhikary came wearing a black tracksuit and a full sleeve T-shirt.
Mother Tumpa Adhikary said Debanshu was very particular about dress and refused to wear the trousers made in Class I.
“Since it has shortened in length, he declined to wear the trousers. At the same time, he was eager to come to school and meet friends after two years. We will get his uniform ready very soon,” said the mother.
Rimpa Samanta, whose son Anurag studies in Class III of the same school, said she went to the tailor on Tuesday evening to get the seam of the child’s trousers untied.
“When we bought the dress in 2020, the trousers were outsized for Anurag. Still we had to untie the seam,” said Rimpi.
Debabrata Mukherjee, headmaster of Sanskrit Collegiate School, said the parents were informed through WhatsApp that they could send their children in casual attire for at least a week.
“After parents told me that they needed time to get new uniforms made, I decided to allow the children to wear casuals to school for now,” Mukherjee said.
Parents of students of St Lawrence High School recounted the same problem.
Some students were seen on the campus in casuals and colourful jackets, which the school would not have allowed in normal circumstances.
“We have given time to parents till the end of the month to get new uniforms made. But we have told the students not to come in jeans,” said Father Francis Jimmy Keepuram, principal of St Lawrence High School.
A parent of a child in junior school said they did not have time to get the uniform on the first day.
“The notice that school is reopening came on Tuesday afternoon and we could not manage to buy a uniform. It was only on Wednesday, as we returned from school, that we got the new uniform,” said the mother.
