By Bongani Masango
The debate about whether school uniforms benefit children continues, with a research paper released earlier this year suggesting that the cost of the uniforms, particularly in poor communities, has in some cases become a barrier restricting access to schooling.
While the government has developed a guideline in 2006 for school uniforms, research found that this did not make school uniforms more affordable.
In many cases, pupils who went to school wearing the incorrect uniform were barred from participating in school activities.
Research by the Alliance for Children's Entitlement to Social Security suggest that the guidelines were not enough - and that in some cases the government should provide some form of support to schools (particularly financial) to ensure that those guidelines are implemented.
It also suggests that the guidelines - which currently are largely voluntary - be made mandatory.
It suggests that government could also play a part in helping make school uniforms cheaper by getting involved in the procurement, encouraging small and medium enterprises and encouraging competition to keep prices down.
Whether your children like it or not, school uniforms are here to stay - and rather than getting into a mad, mad rush during the traditional back-to-school period in January, get with it and get your children's school uniforms already in December.
PEP Stores spokesperson Mariki Schwiebus says that consumers' buying patterns show that parents are looking for quality.
"Customers want tougher clothes, stain-resistant features, better quality fabric, bigger hems that allow for alterations and anything that adds value and prolongs the life of the schoolwear they buy," she said.
"People now have to pay around 25 percent more on their food and the strain on disposable income has forced them to think differently about how and when they spend their money," she said.
School uniform guidelines
- Schools must communicate with parents and allow participation in deciding on a new uniform.
- When deciding on a new uniform, school governing bodies must show parents that the national guidelines have been taken into consideration.
- Schools must allow all learners to attend even if they do not have a uniform.
- School governing bodies must "make efforts to assist learners who are unable to afford school uniforms".
Schools must have an assistance plan for learners.
- Schools are prohibited from excluding learners from activities due to their inability to purchase additional clothes.
- Schools are discouraged from having more than one uniform.
- Schools should make clothing for secondary purposes such as physical education and arts and crafts simple and universally available.
- It is recommended that schools run second-hand shops.
- Schools should endeavour to provide required clothing for first-team sports.
- Schools should be sensitive to learners who transfer schools and allow them a grace period to purchase the newly required uniforms.
- Schools in rural areas need to explore ways in which they can get local unemployed people to make school uniforms and gain access to the economy.
- Major changes to the school's uniform should not be made at intervals of less than seven years.
- Refusal to wear uniform may be treated as a disciplinary offence in terms of a school's code of conduct.
- Individual interpretations of the uniform policy with regards to fabric, make and manufacture are allowed, with reasonable flexibility.
- School governing bodies should be sensitive to the community when designing new uniforms.
- Uniforms should be gender-sensitive.
- A proudly South African approach should be taken.
- Schools should be sensitive to religious and cultural needs.
- School should express positive mottos that are not contrary to the constitution.
- Schools should combine other initiatives with uniforms to deal with community safety issues.