Plea to cut cost of school uniforms
THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is seeking to make school uniforms affordable, including getting the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to control the procurement of school uniforms and to provide for the wearing of gender-non-conforming outfits to accommodate diverse gender identities.
The commission has raised concerns that the cost of school uniforms can be prohibitive, leading to a lack of access to education for some pupils.
The commission revealed that it had received regular complaints about the cost of school uniforms, saying the increasing costs were largely as a result of anti-competitive behaviour, where a school forces parents to procure uniforms from one supplier.
The commission said it had warned against anti-competitive behaviour in this sector and made recommendations that schools need to ensure that the uniforms are as generic as possible.
Dr Eileen Carter, provincial head of the SAHRC in the Eastern Cape, said the country needed look at whether school uniforms still fulfilled the purpose they were intended for.
The SAHRC’s Eastern Cape conducted a study in 2022 into the alleged excessive regulation of learners’ appearances and school uniforms.
She said questions around school uniforms were important, and form the basis for the SAHRC tabling its report on school uniforms in Parliament. “We hope to receive a date soon where we will be presenting this to the portfolio committee.
“Factors to include in this assessment should involve an evaluation of whether school uniform materials and items are contributing to accessing basic education or if a compulsory standard uniform that caters to the physical and socio-economic needs of pupils and their families is recommended based on current research. The DBE should make it clear that expensive clothing, such as blazers, is not compulsory.”
Another factor that came to the fore in the inquiry was the issue of gender neutral uniforms. She said such uniforms did not undermine learning in any way and in fact promoted equality among pupils.
In their report, the SAHRC Eastern Cape revealed that school uniform and appearance policies often lack gender sensitivity and inclusivity, reinforcing traditional gender norms and presenting challenges for gender non-conforming and transgender students in expressing their identities.
The report recommended that all learners must be allowed to wear any item of clothing that forms part of the approved school uniform regardless of their sex or gender identity and gender-neutral uniform options must be provided to accommodate gender-nonconforming learners.
Speaking on the issue of directives on uniforms, Matakanye Matakanya, general secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, said they would not support such a move as it would render the existence of the school governing bodies moot.
“We do not want evergreen contracts in our schools. Parents must shop where they can afford, they must not be forced to buy from a particular supplier. If they are forced, they must report to us so we can report to the Competition Commission,” he said.
On the issue of gender-non-conformity school uniforms, he said such a debate was largely ideological at this stage, and their organisation has not taken a position on it.
Labby Ramrathan, a professor at the School of Education at the University of KZN, said he would support the proposal for the department to issue directives for school uniforms.
“With respect to gender conformity … gender-neutral uniforms would be one solution,” he said.