The Directorate of Education in Goa has issued a new directive to schools, urging students to shift from leather shoes to “environmentally friendly” canvas shoes. This decision, effective immediately, aims to promote sustainability and reduce the environmental impact associated with leather production.

The circular highlights concerns over the environmental footprint of leather. It states that leather production involves chemicals that may be harmful to both human health and the environment. Synthetic alternatives, including artificial leather, also contribute to pollution due to similar chemical usage.

To counteract this, schools have been instructed to adopt canvas shoes as part of the official uniform, allowing an exception only for rainwear during monsoon seasons.

“Protection of the environment needs to be practised as much as it is preached, there is no dispute that leather comes at a huge environmental cost. The production of leather from animals involves use of highly toxic chemicals which may cause harm on human skin, and other shoes which are made of artificial leather and other synthetic material are also manufactured using the same chemicals, use of which can be sizably reduced by wearing canvas shoes in the schools,” reads the circular.

According to the directive, canvas shoes are eco-friendly, durable, comfortable and affordable for students.

The circular states that canvas shoes are already prescribed for sports activities and can be worn daily without discomfort.

School authorities, including government, aided, unaided primary, secondary, and higher secondary institutions, must enforce this rule. The circular strictly states that no other shoes will be permitted in school uniforms, except during the monsoon when rainproof shoes are allowed.