Schools ignore 2015 instruction on uniforms

Many still use single suppliers

Schools are defying a Department of Basic Education instruction by entering into exclusive agreements with suppliers of school uniforms.

This was one of the findings of a Competition Commission survey that is investigating alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the supply of uniforms to schools.

The commission has sampled 1 595 schools, 287 school governing bodies and 414 parents and found that a third of private schools and former Model C schools indicated they had exclusive school uniform deals with uniform suppliers.

From those with exclusive uniform deals, 87% of private schools and 53% of former Model C schools have one supplier.

In a circular issued on May 15 2015, the department instructed schools that uniforms have to be “as generic as possible”, and be made available at more than one supplier to allow parents more options.

The circular also called for schools to follow a bidding process when appointing school uniform suppliers and for the agreements to be of a limited duration.

However, the commission found that a large number of schools said they were not familiar with the circular and some even continued to enter into exclusive contracts as recently as last year.

Department of Basic Education spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said it was impossible that schools could be unaware of circulars.

“It is mischievous for schools to claim to be unfamiliar with the instruction ... because it was “the oldest mode of communication in the education system”.

Competition Commission spokesman Sipho Ngwema said the survey could be concluded within a month or two.