After trendy uniforms, it’s free shoes for government school kids

At present, slippers are being provided to students of Class1-10 in government and government aided schools. In 2017-18, 59.95 lakh students benefited from this scheme.

Likewise, the School Education Department has decided to provide free shoes for all students studying in government schools from the next academic year.

A senior official from Education Department told DTNext on Thursday that the free shoes scheme happened following several requests from parents-teachers’ association across the State.

“During winter, students were subjected to mosquito bites. Therefore, the Education Department decided to distribute free shoes and socks to school children,” the official noted. He said the shoes will be procured through proper tender, which is expected to be floated by November.

Each student will receive two pairs of white or black socks along with a pair of black shoes, which could even withstand rainy season, the official added.

He said the shoes will come in different sizes - for Class 1 and 2, for Class 3 and 4, for Class 5 and 6, for Class 7 and 8 and for Class 9 and 10.

“Since there has been an increase in number of students in government schools, more than 60 lakh shoes are expected to be purchased,” the official said.

He said the shoes will be distributed to the students along with uniform and textbooks during the next academic year.