15 percent of teacher’s pay spent on saree, study finds

1 December 2022 06:06 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

-Teachers in Sri Lanka spent a considerable portion of their salaries on their attire alone

*30% of teachers in the research sample faced accidents due to saree

15 per cent of a teacher’s salary is spent on purchasing sarees and related garments to conform with the Education Ministry’s dress code, a study found.

The study conducted by Lasni Buddhibhashika Jayasooriya, a doctoral candidate of Kyushu University, Japan found that teachers in Sri Lanka spent a considerable portion of their salaries on their attire alone.

“Teachers spend quite a lot of money on sarees. In our research we found that 15% of a teacher’s salary is spent on saree related costs. You see, saree is not just the six yard fabric, there is the saree jacket, the lining fabric, tailor fees, underskirts and shoes which suit the saree,” Jayasooriya explained. The research examined how clothing of Sri Lankan female school teachers affects job performance, using a representative sample selected among school teachers from Western and Central provinces.

The researchers studied how much time is taken just for the preparation of this attire, time which they believe could be used to prepare for the lesson. Washing, ironing and draping takes a considerable amount of time when it comes to the saree, the researchers found.

But these are not the only aspects the researchers studied. “Ergonomic factors are also something we looked at. We looked at how convenient it is to move your hands, legs and walk around,” she said.

“Our argument was that a teacher’s role is a dynamic one. Teachers are supposed to move frequently while they engage with the students; they are supposed to be really active. But we found that the saree can be really restrictive. Teachers who teach subjects like physical education are especially challenged.”

The study conducted between 2018 to 2020 was supervised by Prof. Padmasiri Wanigasundara of Peradeniya University and Prof. Saliya de Silva of Saga University, Japan. “We interviewed 15 teachers and we collected data from 100 teachers using self- administrative questionnaires for this study. Not only did we find that the saree was restrictive, but we also looked at certain vulnerabilities the saree caused. We found that 30% of teachers in our sample had faced accidents due to the saree. Incidents like tripping over their own saree, the fall of the saree being entangled, especially when using public transport like the train, these were common events,” they found.

The researchers also noted of how the accepted dress code for teachers in Sri Lanka were discriminatory against females. “The irony here is that men are given the freedom to wear western attire to school. The saree was introduced to Sri Lanka around the time a nationalist movement was born around the time of independence. It’s technically not even our own dress. So, why are women the ones to safeguard Sri Lankan culture with the saree?” Lasni questioned. (Kalani Kumarasinghe)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 8

Dee Thursday, 01 December 2022 06:35 AM

The saree is not only indecent, it also is very smelly, hazardous, not suitable for our climate. As for those who think it's fashionable - get a life!

ravin Thursday, 01 December 2022 06:45 AM

could someone publish total salary scales of following teacher grades. kindergarten teachers, trained teachers, graduate teachers and special grade teachers. Let ourselves enlighten to see how these calculations were made.

Suhada malli Thursday, 01 December 2022 06:46 AM

Without trying NOT to repeat a saree, get used to rotating 12sarees for a 22 working day month. then 22x3500 is about 77,000 which is an investment for over 2 years. have an informal dress code like plain sarees like what the lady lawyers practice.

Octaganarian Thursday, 01 December 2022 06:51 AM

Teaching is a noble Vocation not a job. We cannot have money minded incompetent people becoming teachers and complaining all the time. Govt must automate and streamline their pension calculations loan options etc as once they retire too they must be looked after.

lal Thursday, 01 December 2022 07:05 AM

Ranil's liberal government only want to change traditional things. This merely a bias survey to support the western liberal agenda to remove our cultural heritage. Next they will want kids to come to school using any attire. Why dont they try to change the uniform of cricketers?

ANNECUNT Thursday, 01 December 2022 04:45 PM

Teachers nobel profession unlike politicians a disgrace to the country

Terrence K Thursday, 01 December 2022 07:05 PM

You are arriving at a conclusion based on certain statistical information. The sample of 100 Teachers from a questionnaire with only 15 interviews. Look at the population of female teachers in Primary and Secondary level the total of which amounts to 160,000. From a small sample of 100 through a questionnaire and 15 interviews it seems that your result will be skewed which gives an inaccurate position about the dress code of wearing a saree. When you do a Doctoral thesis especially from Japan you can dupe some of the public at some time not all the people all the time. From your conclusions you are promoting some other costume to the teachers most probably wearing casual dress like JEANS which is not a professional approach as values have been time tested and especially Females are imparting knowledge to all levels of students of the future and a Teacher should be properly attired as a professional.

Tom Friday, 02 December 2022 02:45 PM

You know this whole comment section is so funny. One of our biggest export incomes, we earn from exporting female underwear to the Europe. That means we are designing and manufacturing modern (some might call it dirty according to our great 2500 year old culture), expensive and high quality female underwears. Yet everyone is so concerned about keeping the saree as the female dress to the work. Can we be more hypocritical than this?

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

15 percent of teacher’s pay spent on saree, study finds

Comments - 8

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations