A growing controversy over school uniform rules has emerged in Azerbaijan after reports surfaced that girls in several schools are forbidden from wearing trousers, even during freezing winter months.
According to complaints received by KhazarTV, the issue has been reported in the Barda, Khizi, and Ismayilli districts, as well as in Baku’s Binagadi district, where School No. 182 has come under particular criticism from parents.
“We’re not allowed to wear trousers, and because of that we often get sick,” said one student.
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Another added, “In cold weather, it’s especially hard. We’re constantly falling ill. The administration could at least allow trousers during winter.”
Parents in Baku echoed these concerns, accusing school administrators of imposing unnecessary and harmful restrictions.
“The administration insists our daughters must wear skirts only,” said one mother. “But if trousers are part of the officially approved school uniform, why can’t they wear them? Children are freezing – it’s absurd.”
Another parent described the situation as “rigid and outdated”:
“We were told directly – no trousers, only skirts, even if it’s below zero outside. Girls have to wear thick tights under their skirts just to stay warm.”
Expert: “There Is No Legal Ban on Trousers”
Education expert Kamran Asadov confirmed that no legal restriction exists in Azerbaijani law regarding which items of approved uniforms students may wear.
“There’s no ban on any form of clothing approved by the Cabinet of Ministers,” Asadov said.
“If weather conditions are unfavorable – snow, cold, or wind – students have every right to wear trousers.”
He added that no regulation specifies what students must wear during certain months of the year:
“Uniforms are approved as spring, autumn, and winter versions. If trousers are included in your school’s approved design, you can wear them anytime. Other requirements are purely advisory.”
Education Department Responds
The Baku Education Department confirmed that, under the Cabinet of Ministers’ decree of March 17, 2022, all public schools follow a unified national uniform system.
For School No. 182, the teachers’ council, with input from parents, selected a white and navy-blue uniform model from four approved options.
The department added that there is no objection to girls wearing trousers that are part of the official uniform set.
Citizens facing similar issues are encouraged to contact the Baku Education Department or the State Agency for Preschool and General Education directly.
The debate has reignited broader public discussion in Azerbaijan about gender norms, health, and school autonomy, raising questions about how far uniform policies should go – and at what cost to students’ well-being.
