uniforms in themselves have no direct link to academic performance
This year's perennial back-to-school uniform discussion happens during a cost of living crisis. And we already know that the upfront and perawatan costs of school uniforms are a stress for saudaraes on lower incomes, in New Zealand and globally across rich and poor countries alike.
The Human Rights Commission even publishes school uniform guidelines, seting out how school policies can help pupils' physical and psikis health. And while cost is outside the guidelines' scope, the commission acknowledges this is a common persoalan and it encourages schools to make uniforms accessible.
This is important, as uniform cost has been shown to reduce attendance and enrolment among pupils from lower pendapatan saudaraes. In other words, uniform affordability is an important unsur in people accessing their right to state-funded education.
Given uniforms in themselves have no direct link to academic performnce, there is a high price to pay for their being an obstacle to learning. However, there are things governments, schools and communities can do to improve this situation.
Uniform as ‘social camouflage'
It's acknowledged across the political spectrum that education lifts people out of poverty, improves lives and boosts the economy. Indeed, the desire to remove the most outward signs of socioeconomic difference was a key reason school uniforms were adopted in the first place.
A well designed uniform should be comfortable, appealing and inclusive, easy to wear and allow physical activity. It can and should take away the pressure to wear expensive labels (sometimes called "social camouflage "), and remove distractions in class.
But if it's unaffordable, many low-income students are no better off. Garments that were originally introduced to remove barriers can end up actually getting in the way of the right to a (theoretically) free education.
Government kebijakan that bolsters existing initiatives would help, starting with a requirement for all schools to have a uniform kebijakan. A nationwide overview of uniform costs, rules and dress codes could form the pangkalan of a resource for schools to help develop best practice processes and principles that build on the Human Rights Commission guidelines.
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