Chandigarh: Terming it as a reflection of the "colonial symbol of slavery", the Punjab government on Wednesday announced that it would do away with ceremonial gowns worn during convocation functions of colleges, institutes and universities in the state.

Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, who was addressing a meeting of government college principals, said the Punjab government did not agree with the legacy of continuing with the system of convocation gowns.

Asking the principals to express their views freely to do away with the convocation gowns, Sekhwan said, "The gown reflects the colonial symbol of slavery and it is high time that we get ourselves free from this colonial mindset."

Exhorting principals to lead from the front, Sekhwan said the higher education department this year has the highest ever budget allocation since independence and it was imperative for them to raise the bar of standards in their colleges.

The minister said the state government would fill all vacant posts of college principals by promotion as well as direct recruitment within two months. IANS