The government on Friday denied media reports that it was planning to do away with school uniforms.
Department of Education spokesperson Nelvis Qekema said reports about Deputy Education Minister Mosibudi Mangena saying school uniforms would be scrapped were incorrect.
”It appears the deputy minister was quoted out of context,” he said.
”The department’s policy on this issue remains that uniforms should be worn.”
SABC radio news reported on Friday that Mangena said the government has officially decided to scrap school uniforms.
”We know that uniforms are expensive, especially for the poor parents,” he reportedly told the South African Principals’ Association in Polokwane.
”But we also know that even some middle-class parents find it [the issue of uniforms] quite hard to deal with. In certain instances parents spent close to R5 000 on school uniforms.”
Mangena said a committee has been set up to attend to the matter.
Qekema said the committee was making a comprehensive investigation into all issues surrounding school uniforms.
”The task team is consulting widely with all stakeholders in education including parents and schools. It is scheduled to table its report early next year.”
The committee’s findings would be published for public comment before a final decision was made.
Qekema said the department was also considering decentralising the selling of school uniforms.
”We are aware that the selling of uniforms is a monopoly industry and this state of affairs short changes learners whose parents are poor,” he said.
”This does not mean we will do away with school uniforms but we might look at innovative ways to lower prices.”
School uniform manufacturer Allwear MD Jan Henk Boer said he called the department on hearing the earlier statements and was assured the current policy on school uniforms would not change.
”The department’s Deputy Director General, Firoz Patel, told me this morning [Friday] the reports were incorrect and no changes will be made until the committee recommends otherwise.”
Boer said Education Minister Kader Asmal had clarified to him recently that there would not be changes in school uniforms in the near future.
”Asmal insisted the wearing of school uniforms will remain the decision of the parents and school governing bodies,” he said. — Sapa