Recently, there has been a lot of noise about the controversial issue of fashion, dress code and style on our campuses and Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic is not an exemption. It is controversial because there are so many varying views of dress code and fashion issues. However, before presenting the diverse views on fashion and style in our tertiary institutions, let’s look at the dress code itself.
The dress code on campus is simply a law passed by the authority of some Tertiary Institutions in order to ensure that students dress properly and decently. The dress code which has been passed in many institutions, notably the University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Abuja among others, prohibits certain type of dressing considered to be indecent for the students on campus. It goes further to specify specific uniform dress for students in some professional courses such as law and accounting, amongst others.
Furthermore, in order to ensure compliance to the Dress Code Law, the school authorities have empowered the school authority personnel to turn back any student not properly dressed from the school gate. This was operational at the University of Abuja where students were checked at the main gate before being allowed in. Apart from the security, lecturers have also been empowered to send out from lecture halls, students who do not comply with the dress code.
An important question to ask then is “why the clamour for dress code on our campuses”? Why is there such a deafening din against the dress code, christened “fashion and style” in the light of the numerous problems bedevilling the Tertiary Institutions in this country.
Now if we can be honest to ourselves, we must all agree that the dress code on our campuses nowadays can best be described as outrageous, dangerously seductive and flagrantly indecent. Even the people of Sodom and Gomorrah would surely feel like saints if they were to see what we call “fashion” on our campuses today. We learn from history and anthropology that the early men were naked wanderers. But as evolution progressed human became wiser and began to live in houses and to wear clothes. But unfortunately, we are now witnessing a slide or reverse of evolution because it seems we are going back to the days of the early men by the mode of dressing we see on our campuses today, all in the name of fashion. These types of fashion we see today are undoubtedly the major causes of rampant promiscuity among students today. Additionally, it has led to the molestation of so many students by staff and vice-versa.
Having considered some of the problems caused by indecent dressing (fashion) on our campuses, including Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, today and against the background of religious teachings as well as the fact that these indecent modes of dressing called fashion do not tally with our culture as Nigerians, the need for a dress code and a rebranding of the fashion industry to stem the dangerous tide of outrageous dressing is pertinent. It is also pertinent to note that although, fashion affects both male and female students, the greater part of the brunt is borne by the female students and this is not surprising. We all know that some boys are in the habit of plaiting their hair and wearing earrings, but by far, the ladies are more vulnerable to harassment by their dressing which includes “spaghetti” tops, body hugs, transparent materials, mini-skirts and generally, outfits that reveal almost all of their natural endowments.
One is forced to ponder about the cause of these indecency in dressing popularly called fashion. Lots of people have rightly pointed fingers at the increasing westernization of all facets our lives and the gradual but sure erosion of our social values and norms. Bad upbringing and plain mischief cannot be left out as lot of families have lost their focus and shirked their roles in pursuit of material things.
Finally, whatever the case may be, the fact is that the need for such policies as dress code is long overdue. The only challenge is in its implementation as it is obvious that some of the schools announcing the enactment of the dress code law are far from achieving any meaningful result due to their lack of commitment in its implementation.
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