Education Minister Addresses Problem of Expensive School Uniforms

South Africa’s Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, has spoken frankly about the ongoing struggle with the price of school uniforms as parents around the country battle to make ends meet.

“This is very close to my heart and I think anybody who comes from a poor background – like ourselves – or a township will tell you the value of a school uniform,” she said at an event in Katlehong.

Motshekga announced that following years of investigations into complaints received from parents who were forced to buy school uniforms from exclusively-selected suppliers, the Competition Commission and School Governing Body Associations was finally signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday.

Last year, the commission and the Department of Basic Education jointly published a circular on best practices relating to all procurement undertaken by schools to curb anti-competitiveness.

The Minister says the commission and the department are working around the clock to ensure school uniforms are affordable and accessible.

However, she said scrapping school uniforms was not a viable solution.

“Home clothes are a big problem because they’re a social indicator and if you remove school uniforms you’re going to begin to show which kids come from rich families and those who don’t,” she claimed.

According to the Minister, poverty is one of the reasons for learners dropping out of high school.

“Young people are sensitive and if they don’t have designer clothes it embarrasses them… They don’t want to be seen in torn clothes and if they don’t have shoes it’s a big deal and impacts on the image, so they just drop out.”

Motshekga said children in high school are already “conscious of themselves”.

Having a uniform is the best equaliser and it helps the sector identify learners and manage their movements. – SAnews.gov.za