Costly school uniforms get thumbs-down

Schools should decide what suits their situation, experts tell Lee-Anne Butler

OLD-FASHIONED and too expensive. These are the reasons education experts believe that compulsory school uniforms that consist of expensive items like blazers should be scrapped.

With the cost of an entry-level blazer now in the region of R700, local education expert Prof Susan van Rensburg has called for the government and schools to revisit the idea of compulsory school uniforms.

“School uniforms are old-fashioned and do not really contribute to discipline at a school,” she said. “With the majority of our country’s population poor, most people cannot afford all the items required.

“Also, how can we require children to be dressed in full school uniform when they are going into a system where no real teaching can take place due to other challenges? Surely all that money can go elsewhere.”

Van Rensburg said children could still look neat by wearing jeans, similar shoes and a similar jacket with a school badge.

Outgoing Sapphire Road Primary principal Bruce Damons said his school was in one of the most disadvantaged areas in the city and for that reason it was not strict on school uniforms.

“We mostly require pupils to wear grey or black. But in situations of extreme poverty even owning a pair of shoes becomes an issue. I believe schools should look at their own context and make their own decisions.”

He said in more affluent areas some sense of uniformity was required as children experienced peer pressure due to their clothing.

St Dominic’s Priory headmaster Greg Stokell said the strict use of school uniforms depended on the school, its socio-economic circumstances and traditions and history.

“For instance, our school is one that has a rich traditional heritage which is reflected by our uniforms and also helps the public identify with the school. I believe school identity plays a positive role and helps to motivate and inspire the children to attain standards of excellence.”

Stokell said he did not believe school uniforms were significantly linked to discipline.

“I believe clear guidelines assist when you are raising children to be modest as there is a risk of them dressing inappropriately. This could then become a distraction to the main goal of educating.”

He said designer jeans, shoes and jackets were also very expensive and children were especially brand-conscious.

“For most children, their self-esteem is linked to their appearance and if they see others dressing in a particular way they may feel pressurised to keep up. This is something one wants to avoid as well, as some parents cannot afford all these brands.”

Stokell said schools could adopt a plain golf-shirt, tracksuit jacket and a pair of jeans as uniform.

“However, there should still be clear guidelines, like the same navy jeans with no rips, a belt and the same shoes, so it still builds a sense of community and school identity.”