DUSHANBE, September 29, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The board of the Ministry of Education (MoE) has considered and endorsed guidelines on professional dress for teachers at universities and secondary schools and a dress code for them will come into effect beginning on October 1 this year, Asia-Plus has learned at a MoE.

The source noted that guidelines would be prepared today or tomorrow.  “As soon as the guidelines are printed they will be distributed to all education facilities across the country,” the source said.

According to him, the guidelines offer more than twenty types of professional dress for teachers for all seasons of the year  “We do not insist on any specific type of professional dress  Teachers may choose the type they consider suitable – national or European clothes,” said the source.  “Male teachers over the age of 50 may have beard no longer than three centimeters.”

Asked about measures that will be taken against teachers who will not comply with the dress code, the source noted that teachers’ meetings will decide the fate of such teachers.

He added that the way a teacher dresses is very important as it is the most overt way in which the teacher exerts influence in the classroom.  Teacher should not wear his/her weekend clothes to the classroom.  Teachers’ appearance sends a message to students, their parents and the community.