| Last Updated: Monday, 22 September, 2003, 08:21 GMT 09:21 UK |
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Are school uniforms outdated? | |||
The South African Education department is concerned about the cost of school uniforms to the majority of parents in the country. There has been considerable media speculation about the possiblity of scrapping school uniforms altogether. However, the department is clear that is does not intend introducing new regulations at present.
A departmental statement said they would "ensure that individual parents have a direct say in the type and form and ultimately the cost of the school uniform they would want to prescribe."
"What we cannot countenance is that learners are denied access to their constitutional right to education because of restrictive school policies such as those concerning expensive school uniforms." For this reason, the department said unique schools uniforms might be prescribed at schools where the majority of parents could afford it, provided that schools found ways of assisting those who could not afford it. "This does not mean we will do away with school uniforms but we might look at innovative ways to lower prices." The BBC's Africa Live programme asks how important are school uniforms? Are they divisive, old-fashioned, a waste of money and demeaning for older students? Or are they neat and tidy, a source of pride, good for discipline, whilst also offering a way to disguise of economic disparities? Join the BBC's Africa Live programme Wednesday, 24 September at 1630 and 1830 GMT. Use the form to send us your comments, some of which will be published below. If you would like to take part in the discussion, e-mail us with your telephone number. | |||
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