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KVs get a Nifty makeover

Designer Uniforms to Mark Golden Jubilee of Schools

Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) students are set to get a makeover from the next academic year. The National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT) is designing uniforms to replace the navy blue-and-white dress that has been the trademark of the central government run chain of schools for the past 50 years. There are more than 10.5 lakh students. “The change is being made to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of KVs. All we know is that the design is getting ready,” said KV Meenambakkam principal K Lakshmipathi. Schools have been told to make the change from July, so those admitted this year need not stitch the uniforms. Existing students can continue to wear the blue and white uniform till July and have the option of phasing out their old uniforms over the next two years.


Currently, girls in classes 1 to 8 wear white shirts with navy blue skirts, while older students wear a blue kameez with a white salwar and a white dupatta. Boys in Classes 1 to 8 wear white shirts with blue shorts and older ones wear trousers. As the daytime climate in Tamil Nadu is pretty much the same through the year, students wear the same uniforms. In areas such as Delhi, students are given two different uniforms – one for summer and another for winter. 
Before starting on the new design, resource persons from NIFT, Delhi visited 10-15 KVs. “People from NIFT visited our school to interact with students, parents and teachers and get their feedback on what kind of a design they would prefer. My students are excited about the change, “said principal of KV – Ashok Nagar Prasanna Kumari.


NIFT Chennai director S Devadoss said climate conditions of the areas would pay an important role while designing uniforms. “The uniforms are expected to be of contemporary design, reflecting the culture and ethos of the country. We have been promised that it will be convenient and that the functional requirements will also be taken into consideration, “said Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan deputy commissioner (Chennai region) N R Murali.

Posted on 24 Mar 2012