School uniform

"School uniforms" redirects here. For the song by The Wombats, see The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation.

School children wearing their uniforms, in Madagascar

A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries (see list of countries below). When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code. Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and professional. Boys' uniforms often consist of dark short or long trousers and light-colored shirt, often with a tie. Girls' uniforms vary greatly between countries and schooling systems, but typically consist of a dress or a blouse worn either with a skirt or culottes or under a pinafore; some countries allow girls to wear trousers. The use of a blazer or suit-like jacket for either gender is also fairly common, especially in countries with relatively cold weather. While some countries have school uniforms that are essentially standard in all schools using it, others have each school with an individual uniform, varying in colour and often making use of badges.

By country

Argentina

The white uniform of Argentine school children.

White smocks are the most widely known school uniforms ofs in Argentina. This appears to be a reflection of the Italian influence since Argentina was one of the major destinations for Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th century. Several European countries in the late 19th century, especially France and Italy, instituted smocks as a school uniform. They were seen as a way of covering the differences in the clothing of children so that poor children would not be embarrassed by their poor clothing. The children in state schools do not .

Australia

File:Plcuniform1950.jpg

Students of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney in uniform, 1950.

Photograph of the front of an Australian Year 12 school uniform top, taken in 2005.

School uniforms in Australia generally follow the British Model. Almost all Private and Government schools and All Catholic Schools, in all Australian states, have a compulsory uniform policy, though the degree of enforcement varies among school systems.Uniform and appearance is generally strictly enforced in Private and Catholic schools whilst to a lesser degree in the Public system. For boys, the uniforms generally include a button-up white shirt and/or polo shirt together with either short trousers (especially for summer wear) or long trousers, usually in grey. Where short trousers are to be worn, long (knee-length) socks in school colours are often required. A Necktie is also usually compulsory for boys and for girls in Private schools. Blazers are also common in Catholic and Private schools. Girls' uniforms generally include a checkered or striped dress for summer and in most secondary schools, girls wear a skirt as well as a button-up/polo shirt in winter. There is often a separate uniform just for physical education and sports. It usually consists of shorts and a shirt, as well as a spray jacket and sometimes netball skirt for girls. It is common for students in their final year of primary school to have their own hoodie/jumper to denote their final-year status. It is also becoming increasingly common for students in their final year of secondary school to have a distinctive uniform to the other students.

Kids in school uniform with their lunch; Bona Espero School, Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil

Brazil

Private schools require their students to wear uniforms, with some exceptions in high school. Public schools require students to wear uniforms. In general, the uniforms consist of a pair of blue pants and white t-shirt with the school symbol printed or embroiled on it. Some schools require specific colors of shoes, like black or white. Some high schools offer their students the option of wearing jeans instead. Schools try to limit the use of other types of clothing as an attempt to reduce consumerism among students.

Burma

School uniforms are mandatory throughout public schools in Burma, from kindergarten until the 10th standard. From kindergarten to the 4th standard, the compulsory boy uniform is a white shirt and green pants, which can be short or long. Shoes and Burmese sandals may be worn. The girl uniform is similar, consisting of a white shirt and a skirt or pants. From 5th standard until matriculation, traditional Burmese attire is considered appropriate school uniform. The boy uniform is a white shirt (with a Mandarin collar or uncollared) and a green sarong called a paso, along with Burmese sandals. For girls, a traditional Burmese blouse (either the yinzi, with a front opening, or the yin-phon, with a side opening) and a green sarong called a htamein are worn, along with Burmese sandals.

School children wearing their uniforms in Burundi

Burundi

School uniforms are compulsory for school children in Burundi.

Cambodia

School children in their uniforms, in the yard of an elementary school, in Cambodia

Uniforms are now fashionable in Cambodian schools. Before the school uniform, students would usually wear a white shirt and a skirt or pair of trousers in blue or black. In both primary and secondary education, both male and female students are allowed to wear any style of clothes within a set dress code, such as regulation colours, length of skirts, and so on, rather than requiring specific clothes.

Canada

Most public schools in Canada do not require that students wear uniforms, but most include rules against indecent or offensive clothing. Many regions of Canada have publicly-funded Catholic schools, and many of these schools have uniforms. Prior to the integration of Newfoundland's public (government-funded) school system in the late 1990s, those public schools administered by the Catholic Church mandated strict, uniform-like dress codes (shirts and ties for boys, dresses or skirts for girls) at the elementary and junior high school levels, lifting most restrictions for high school students. In recent years, some schools have eliminated skirts and kilts, in favour of dress pants for girls, or replaced skirts with culottes or a garment called a skort which is a skirt that has an attached short on the inside for modesty. Also, bike shorts are sometimes worn under skirts. The tops are either dress shirts or golf shirts, and either sweaters or sweatshirts are worn. Grey or khaki dress pants are worn by both boys and girls.

Chile

Main article: Chilean school uniform

Chilean students wearing their uniforms.

In Chile, most schools have a uniform.

Until 1930, it was uncommon for students to wear a uniform. Under the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, all students became obliged to wear a school uniform. During the administration of Eduardo Frei Montalva, a unified uniform was introduced for all public and private schools and other education centers. Today, these uniforms have disappeared in private schools, who have preferred to use a customized one.

China PR

School uniforms in Xinjiang

Uniforms are a common part of the schools in China. Almost all secondary schools as well as some elementary schools require students to wear uniforms. Uniforms in mainland China usually consist of two sets, one for summer and the other for winter. Uniforms for boys in the winter usually consist of a zip up sweater and pants, and a collared shirt (usually white) with shorts or pants in the summer. The uniforms for girls in the winter are basically the same as the boys' uniform. In the southern-ish part of china, they wear blue and white sweat shirts and pants.

Cuba

Cuban school girls in their uniforms.

School uniforms are used in Cuba. All students, regardless of age or sex, wear school uniforms with the color denoting grade level. Children also wear scarfs as members of Cuban young pioneers organization.

Denmark

The majority of public and private schools in Denmark do not have school uniforms. Historic school uniforms remain, however, at two of the countries most famous boarding schools: Herlufsholm School and Sorø Akademi.

Dominican Republic

School uniforms are required by law in the Dominican Republic, in order to establish equality in education. This law also applies to private schools, which generally have school uniforms consisting of a school polo shirt along with a designated pant color.

England

London pupils in modern school uniform.

Main article: School uniforms in England

School uniforms were first introduced on a large scale during the reign of King Henry VIII. The uniforms of the time were referred as "bluecoats", as they consisted of long trench-coat-style jackets dyed blue. Blue was the cheapest available dye and showed humility amongst all children. The first school to introduce this uniform was Christ's Hospital and it is the oldest uniform of any school.

In 1870 the Elementary Education act introduced free primary education for all children. The popularity of uniforms increased and eventually most schools had a uniform. During this period most uniforms reflected the trends of the age, with boys wearing short trousers and blazers until roughly the age of puberty and then long trousers from about 14 or 15. Girls mainly wore blouse, tunic dress and pinafore later progressing towards the beginning of the 20th century to gymslips.

These uniforms continued until the 1950s when after the Butler reforms secondary education was made free and the school leaving age was raised to 15. These reforms encouraged schools to implement uniform codes which were similar to other schools. Distinct "summer" and "winter" uniforms were sometimes required, particularly for girls where dresses were mandated for summer and gymslip for winter.

School uniforms are required to be fair for both genders, provide a reasonably low cost and tolerate religious freedoms e.g. allowing Sikhs to wear turbans and Muslims to wear headscarfs.

Germany

Germany’s school children in 2009.

From the 16th century, students (especially of secondary or grammar schools and similar institutions) were often subject to regulations that prescribed, for example, modest and not too stylish attire. In many cases these regulations were part of wider laws concerning the clothing of all citizens of certain social classes.

A blue coat became a widespread, obligatory status symbol of students of secondary schools; it fell out of use during the latter half of the 18th century. In newer times, school uniforms in any real sense did not exist outside of convent schools and private boarding schools. At times, certain fashions became so widespread that they approached uniform status; this is true in particular for so-called student hats (Schülermützen) that became widespread from the 1880s on and remained somewhat popular until they were banned by the Nazis. Their wearing was advocated by teachers and the students themselves and occasionally made mandatory, but never on a national or state-wide level. Another instance are the sailor suits that became fashionable around the turn of the 19th century. These, too, were not usually a prescribed uniform.

The Nazis banned student hats – the last remaining, if voluntary, form of unified student clothing – because they considered them an attribute of class society. They did, however, institute mandatory membership in the uniformed Hitler Youth (HJ) from 1936 on. HJ uniforms were worn in the HJ training academies and in the Napolas; students of other schools sometimes wore them to school at their own discretion.

In recent times, the introduction of school uniforms has been discussed, but usually the expression "uniform" (the word is the same in German) is avoided in favour of terms like "school clothing" ("Schulkleidung"). School clothing has been introduced in a small number of schools, for example in Hamburg-Sinstorf in 2000, and in Friesenheim and Haag (Oberbayern) in 2005. In these cases the clothes are collections of shirts, sweaters, and the like, catering to contemporary fashion senses. Uniforms in a more traditional sense are almost never proposed in earnest.

A number of schools also sell branded clothing that can be worn as a sign of school-pride.

Ghana

Students in Ghana wearing their uniform

All children have to wear school uniforms in Ghana.

Recently, there have been public programs through which poor families are offered financial help to buy uniforms. Over 8,000 school uniforms have been distributed by the government to needy students in the communities from the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality, one of the mining districts in Ghana, which is severely affected by poverty. This policy is part of a program which was instituted in 2010 as an effort made by the government to supply disadvantaged children with school uniforms.

Hong Kong

Cheongsam as School Uniform
Note uniform is plain - markings are signatures of owners classmates

Most schools in former British colony Hong Kong have British school uniforms and a few schools, especially girl's schools, retain the heritage of using Chinese Cheongsam as uniform.

India

Children wearing uniforms at a primary school in a village in Madhya Pradesh.

Schools uniforms are compulsory in India, from primary to higher-secondary level. Boys' uniforms often consist of light-colored shirt,usually blue, and dark long trousers. Girls' uniforms are most often shirt and skirt. Some schools employ Salwar Kameez for girls. Certain schools require their students to wear a tie; especially many schools run by Christian missionaries. As a policy decision, Indian government do not ban children from sporting religious symbols. Some Muslim girls wear a veil and many Sikh boys a turban in addition to the school uniform. Most schools, whether public or private, prohibit the male students from keeping long hair and/or colouring them.

Indonesia

Primary schools or Sekolah Dasar (SD) students wear a white short-sleeve shirt with red shorts for male students, and below-knee skirts for females.

Lower Secondary schools or SMP: Sekolah Menengah Pertama require navy shorts with a short-sleeve white shirt for male students. Females wear a below-knee-length navy skirt, and short-sleeve white shirt.

An elementary student wearing the typical white and red uniform in Indonesia.

Upper Secondary schools SMA: Sekolah Menengah Atas require blue-grey trousers with a short-sleeve white shirt. Females wear a below-knee-length blue-grey skirt, and wear short-sleeve white shirts.

Public schools in Indonesia tolerate religious freedoms. For example, Muslim girls may opt to wear long-sleeve shirts, longer skirts, and jilbab to cover their heads. Most schools in Indonesia also have a batik uniform which are usually worn on Thursday or Friday. This kind of uniform consists of a batik short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt, with shorts or trousers for SMA, and below-knee skirts or longer for females. The motives and colors of batik depend on the school. Most schools in richer area tends to issue neckties for their students. This necktie vary from school to school in terms of color and sewing pattern, even among public schools.

The scouts uniform is also used in many schools in Indonesia at least once a week. The uniform consists of light-brown short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirts, with dark-brown shorts or trousers, and below-knee skirts or longer for females.

Nowadays, with the increase of the number of private schools in Indonesia, most private schools in the country have their own signature school uniform. Most still consist of shirts with shorts or trousers for males, and skirts for females, only with differences on the color. But, there are also many schools which have different type of uniforms such as vast, suit-like jackets, sailor style uniforms, pinafores, culottes, school-issued t-shirts, tartan skirts, military-style uniforms, and so on.

Every school also has their own standard grooming. The males are never allowed to have long hair. Usage of accessories are prohibited for males, while the females are sometimes allowed to use simple accessories. All students are prohibited to color their hair or tattoo any part of their body as well. Enforcement of these rules vary from school to school, some will immediately take action such as cut male students' hair or confiscate improper accessories while others may impose detentions for the following day.

Some schools also pay attention on the kinds of shoes that can be worn. Black or white sneakers are the most common shoes to wear in school. Higher level educated students, such as in SMA or SMK, are normally required to wear black-leather shoes.

The school badge is usually put on the right sleeve of a shirt, with the school name and location in the left sleeve. The emblem of OSIS (Organisasi Siswa Intra Sekolah), or School's Intern Student Organization, is put on the shirt's left pocket. Students' name are usualy on the right side of the shirt and embedded by sewing, ironing or as a detachable badge. Some school (usually "SMP" and "SMA") distinguish the grade of their students by strips on the official neckties issued or an explicit emblem below schools' emblem

Ireland

Traditionally, Irish schools have followed the British style of school uniforms. The current school uniforms used in Ireland are similar to those in the United Kingdom, but polo-shirts appear to be less popular than in the U.K.. Suit jackets and ties are also less common. Skirts tend to be longer than in the U.K., the most common length is around at the knees but some schools may have floor length skirts as part of the uniform. Most schools at second level have a school jacket and an increasing amount of primary schools have introduced them.

Some second level schools change uniform after students finish Third Year.

Israel

According to former Education Minister Limor Livnat, about 1,400 Israeli public schools require pupils to wear uniforms.

School uniforms used to be the norm in Israel in the state's early days, but have since fallen out of favour. However, in recent years, the number of schools using school uniforms has been increasing once more. Many teachers, parents and students are in favour of returning the school uniform to common use to prevent the deepening of the gap between affluent children and those less well-off. Nowadays school uniforms are mainly associated with schools belonging to the national religious school system, which is separated from secular Jewish schools. Arab Israeli schools also frequently require uniforms: for girls, it is often a pinafore to be worn over trousers and shirt.

Today, school uniforms in Israel consist only of a shirt with the school logo. In the summer, the uniform shirt is a simple T-shirt, while in the winter, the shirts worn are warm or hooded sweaters. Although the shirts are uniform, they usually come in various colours, and allow students to customize and express themselves even while wearing a uniform. The shirts sell for a very small amount of money, so that even those who do not have a lot of money can acquire them.

Italy

In Italy, school uniforms are uncommon, partially because child uniforms are associated with the era of Benito Mussolini before World War II when children were placed according to their age into Italian Fascist youth movements and had to wear uniforms inside and outside school.

However, until the early 1970s many high schools required girls to wear black grembiule (resembling a doctor smock) on top of their clothes: no uniform was required for boys. Perhaps this was because at one time high schools were the only public schools to admit both sexes (as opposed to junior schools and elementary), and girls may be required to "cover up" not to distract their male counterparts. Indeed this policy was highly disputed during the sexual revolution of the 1960s and later abolished.

Nowadays, many pre-schools advise parents to dress their children with a grembiulino, i.e., a small grembiule, usually shorter and more colourful, that can be purchased cheaply.

Some elementary schools advise some kind of grembiule for the younger pupils. Sometimes girls are required to wear a pink or white grembiulino, while boys may be required to wear a short cotton jacket, usually blue or black. In other cases both boys and girls may be required to wear a more neutral blue grembiule.

Some parents send their children to school in a grembiule even if the school does not require it.

Poet and children's writer Gianni Rodari has described adult life as "a school without grembiule and school desk".

In 2004 the Italian chapter of WWF warned that synthetic grembiules were harmful to pupils.

In July 2008 Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini proposed the re-introduction of the compulsory smock in public schools, provoking a debate in the Italian press.

Jamaica

Like most Caribbean countries, all students are required to wear a school uniforms except in tertiary education institutes. Most Jamaican schools are strict where it concerns uniform, usually specifying sock color, shoe color, the maximum height of shoe heels, and the allowed earrings (usually small sleepers or knobs). No jewellery is a common rule, and a few schools have restrictions for hairstyles. The most common uniform worn by boys is the full khaki uniform, often with a crest or epaulet to differentiate between schools.

Many Jamaican schools have a slightly different uniform for the 12th grade students in the school, or a completely different uniform with the same colours used in the regular school uniform.

Japan

Main article: Japanese school uniform

A winter sailor outfit on a mannequin – note the long sleeves.

Japan introduced school uniforms in the late 19th century. Today, school uniforms are almost universal in the public and private school systems. They are also used in some women's colleges. The Japanese word for uniform is seifuku (制服).

In the majority of elementary schools, students are not required to wear a uniform to school. Where uniforms are required, many boys wear white shirts, short pants, and caps. Young boys often dress more formally in their class pictures than they do other days of the school year. Girls' uniforms might include a gray pleated skirt and white blouse. Occasionally the sailor outfit is used for girls. The uniform codes may vary by season to work with the environment and occasion. It is common for both boys and girls to wear brightly colored caps to prevent traffic accidents. Also, it is normal for uniforms to be worn outside of school areas. This is going out of fashion and many students are wearing casual dress.

The Japanese junior- and senior-high-school uniform traditionally consists of a military style uniform for boys and a sailor outfit for girls. These uniforms are based on Meiji era formal military dress, themselves modeled on European-style naval uniforms. The sailor outfit replace the undivided hakama (andon bakama 行灯袴) designed by Utako Shimoda between 1920–30. While this style of uniform is still in use, many schools have moved to more Western-pattern parochial school uniform styles. These uniforms consist of a white shirt, tie, blazer or sweater vest with school crest, and tailored trousers (often not of the same color as the blazer or sweater vest) for boys and a white blouse, tie, blazer with school crest, and tartan skirt for girls.

Japanese high school students wearing the sailor fuku.

Much like the male uniform, the gakuran, the sailor outfit bears a similarity to various military styled naval uniforms. The uniform generally consists of a blouse attached with a sailor-style collar and a pleated skirt. There are seasonal variations for summer and winter: sleeve length and fabric are adjusted accordingly. A ribbon is tied in the front and laced through a loop attached to the blouse. Several variations on the ribbon include neckties, bolo ties, neckerchiefs, and bows. Common colors are navy blue, white, grey, light green and black.

Shoes, socks, and other accessories are sometimes included as part of the uniform. These socks are typically navy or white. The shoes are typically brown or black penny loafers. Although not part of the prescribed uniform, alternate forms of legwear (such as loose socks, knee-length stockings, or similar) are also commonly matched by more fashionable girls with their sailor outfits.

Regardless of what type of uniform any particular school assigns its students, all schools have a summer version of the uniform (usually consisting of just a white dress shirt and the uniform slacks for boys and a reduced-weight traditional uniform or blouse and tartan skirt with tie for girls) and a sports-activity uniform (a polyester track suit for year-round use and a t-shirt and short pants for summer activities). Depending on the discipline level of any particular school, students may often wear different seasonal and activity uniforms within the same classroom during the day. Individual students may attempt to subvert the system of uniforms by wearing their uniforms incorrectly or by adding prohibited elements such as large loose socks or badges. Girls may shorten their skirts; boys may wear trousers about the hips, omit ties, or keep their shirts unbuttoned.

Because school uniforms are a popular fetish item, second-hand sailor outfits and other items of school wear are brokered through underground establishments known as burusera, although changes to Japanese law have made such practices difficult. The pop group Onyanko Club had a provocative song called "Don't Strip Off the Sailor Suit!" Sailor outfits, along with other styles of school uniform, play an undeniably large role in otaku culture as evidenced by the large amount of anime, manga, and dōjinshi featuring characters in uniform, Sailor Moon being one of the most popular examples.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, school uniforms (Malay: Pakaian Seragam Sekolah) are compulsory for all students who attend public schools. Western style school uniforms were introduced to present-day Malaysia in the late 19th century during the British colonial era, but the present design was standardised beginning 1 January 1970. Today, school uniforms are almost universal in the public and private school systems.

The uniforms at Malaysian public schools are as follows:

Malaysian primary school girls wearing the pinafore

File:18548000849097l.jpg

A Malaysian secondary school class photo. All but one lady sitting in the front row are wearing the baju kurung who is the teacher of the class.

• Primary school
  • Boys
    • White shirt and
      • Navy blue short trousers; or
      • Navy blue long trousers
  • Girls
    • Navy blue pinafore over white shirt; or
    • White baju kurung (a long tunic that covers the arms) over long navy blue skirt

• Secondary school
  • Boys
    • White shirt and
      • Olive green long trousers; or
      • Olive green short trousers; or
      • White trousers (generally only for Form 6 students)
  • Girls
    • Turquoise pinafore over white shirt (Form 1 to Form 5); or
    • Turquoise skirt with white blouse (generally only for Form 6 students); or
    • White baju kurung (a long tunic that covers the arms) over long turquoise skirt (Form 1 to Form 6)

Students are required to wear white socks and white shoes with the above uniform. For modesty reasons as well, most schools require female students who wear the baju kurung to wear a plain-coloured camisole underneath.

In addition to these, schools usually have their own school badges which must be sewn or ironed on to the uniform - generally at the left chest. Some schools also require students to sew their name tags in addition to the school badge. For upper forms, students generally have to wear a school-specific tie, except those who are wearing the baju kurung.

In Malaysia, Muslim girls tend to wear the baju kurung. Most of them start wearing a white tudung (Malaysian version of the Muslim headscarf or hijab) upon entering secondary school, for religious reasons. Non-Muslim girls tend to wear the pinafore. Some non-Muslim girls wear the baju kurung.

Muslim boys may wear Baju Melayu at school on Fridays, often with a songkok hat, so as to be dressed for going to the mosque for prayers at lunchtime.

Girls who choose to wear the pinafore, especially those attending co-ed schools, also usually wear shorts under their pinafore to allow for carefree movement as the skirt of the pinafore only covers up to the knee. Those who wear the baju kurung tend not to wear shorts under their long skirt as their long skirt already covers their legs.

Neckties are often worn by prefects, class monitors, librarians, and other students of rank. Some schools have neckties as standard issue, but even then, the neckties are generally reserved for school events and public appearances, and are not part of the everyday school uniform, the tropical climate making them uncomfortable.

The hairstyle of students is also given attention by schools and the Ministry of Education Schools do not allow students to colour their hair. For boys, there is usually a maximum length of hair allowed, for example, the hair must be a few centimetres above the collar, and no sideburns are allowed. Violation of boys' hair regulations is often punished with a caning but some schools offer the alternative of an enforced haircut at the school. The use of hair gel is prohibited in some of the stricter schools, in order to prevent excessive hairdressing. For girls with long hair, their hair must be properly tied up, often into a ponytail. Some schools dictate the colour and type of hair accessories that can be used. Some prohibit even girls from having long hair. Wearing make up in school is prohibited.

Schools usually enforce their school uniform code thoroughly, with regular checks by teachers and prefects. Students who fail to comply may be warned, given demerit points, publicly punished, sent home from school, or caned.

New Zealand

Traditionally, many New Zealand Intermediate and high schools have followed the British system of school uniforms, although it is common in state schools for the boy's uniform to have a jersey and grey short trousers rather than a blazer with tie and pants (long trousers). This usually consists of a variety of the following apparel: an 'official' school jersey, jacket and tie, a grey/white shirt, pants and/or shorts, and, in many girls' schools, kilts. Blazers and jackets are of varied colours according to the school - dark or light blue, grey, crimson, scarlet, green or black. Some follow the British practice of having contrasting colours edging the lapels and jacket fronts. Caps have generally been discarded since the 1970s but in many primary schools there is a compulsory broad brimmed floppy hat, in the school colours, to prevent sunburn. Where short trousers are worn, boys were usually required to wear long dark socks, which may require garters to hold them up. Since 1990 an increasing number of school include sandals as the standard summer foot wear.

Being allowed to wear long trousers as part of the uniform, rather than shorts, often marks the transition from junior to senior classes. At some schools, seniors are allowed to wear non uniform clothing, known colloquially as "mufti". Other students can wear non-uniform clothing on selected days of the school year in lieu of a donation to charity.

During the 1980s and 1990s there was a tendency for the traditional uniform to be replaced by cheaper and more 'modern' options: polo shirts, polar fleece tops, or a complete doing away with uniforms in favour of mufti. This trend seems to have been reversed in recent years and only a small number of secondary schools now do not have uniforms at all. Intermediate schools usually provide the option of skirts or culottes for girls and sometimes shorts while boys will wear shorts. Also bike shorts or tights are sometimes worn under girls' skirts and dresses. At high school girls will usually wear culottes, skirts or pants and boys will wear shorts or pants. Some girls' schools also have navy blue skirts and open necked white blouses long in winter and short in summer, as the skirts are not allowed higher than below the knee; the skirts also have splits up the centre at the back. Particularly in the Auckland region, older girls (Year 12 and 13) will often wear an ankle length skirt denoting seniority. Year 13 secondary school leavers often purchase special leavers jerseys in the school colour which include the students name and a significant number or nickname. Most secondary schools operate a second hand uniform shop at the start of each year. It is a tradition in many school for pupils to sign a leavers blouse or shirt on the last day at school.

Nigeria

Children in Nigeria in school uniforms

School uniforms are used in Nigeria. There are also programs to help financially the most disadvantaged families: for instance, the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan has distributed 7,200 school uniforms to pupils in the nine primary schools within the council area, with the aim of improving the standard of education in Lagos state.

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Executive supports poor families with the cost of paying for school uniforms with a £35 primary school uniform allowance. This is claimed via local Education and Library Boards for parents in receipt of income support. At the end of August 2009, there were 24,135 successful applications for the grant.

Pakistan

Due to Pakistan's colonial history public and private sector schools both have uniforms. Although exact design varies, boys mostly wear shirts and trousers with a tie, while girls wear a dress or a skirt when young and the traditional "shalwar Kamiz" after turning 12 or 13. Uniforms differ between winters and summers e.g. the colour of the trousers might be different in summers, while in winters students will have to wear a blazer, in the summer they will usually be permitted to leave the blazer off.

A Pakistani student in School Uniform

Although strictly enforced when young, older school children personalise their clothing e.g. by wearing low coloured jeans instead of pants. Young kids however can face fines, can be sent back home and can even face verbal and physical punishment for not wearing the right clothes. Some school provide a day where boys and girls can wear "coloured clothes" i.e. anything that they wear normally while others do away with uniforms altogether by the time they reach A levels.

Philippines

School uniforms are common in Philippine schools for both elementary and high school, as well as a few colleges. For boys, a school uniform normally consists of a collared white shirt (some similar to the Barong Tagalog) with short sleeves and slacks of either khaki, black, brown or navy blue. For girls, a uniform would be a white blouse with short or long sleeves, a ribbon or a necktie, and a pleated skirt.

In the 1970s and 80s, school uniforms were usually white long-sleeved shirts and neckties with black slacks for boys, while short or long sleeved blouses with ribbon and blue pleated skirts for girls. During that time, the skirts were usually shorter, ranging from about half an inch after the upper knee or shorter, while the longest was 1-inch (25 mm) before the lower knee. Due to the growing cases of abuses, the school uniform code for girls slowly grew stricter until the late 1990s, when skirts were made much longer.

Some schools, especially for boys, require wearing a coat and tie alongside the white shirt. But this mostly applies only in select colleges and international schools.

Russia

Girls at the last bell celebration, wearing the traditional Soviet school uniform.

In Russia, school uniforms were abolished after the 1917 revolution, but were re-introduced in 1948. Initially, the new uniform was very similar to that in place before the communist takeover. Wearing uniform was made mandatory and pupils were penalized for not following the rules.

The style of Soviet school uniform was modernized in 1962, and since that time was modified each decade. There could be some variations across different Soviet Republics. Boys generally wore dark blue pants and jackets, girls — brown dresses with black aprons and black bows (on special occasions, white aprons and bows were worn). The members of the Young Pioneer organization, to which literally every student belonged, wore famous red neckties. Special sport uniforms also existed for physical education classes. In the early 1980s, a dark blue three-piece suit was introduced for girls and the strict rules on haircuts were loosened.

In 1992, mandatory school uniforms were abolished. Today, there is no unified standard uniform in Russia; however, certain schools may have their own uniform that students are required to wear. Educational institutions without a uniform may also have a certain dress code.

There is also a modern-day tradition for girls to dress into brown Soviet-style school uniform for their graduation ceremony.

Scotland

Scottish law is not specific on the question of school uniform. Generally, the school must provide information on its policy on clothing and uniform and the Education Authority must provide written information on its general policy on wearing school uniform. Some Education Authorities do not insist on students wearing a uniform as a precondition to attending and taking part in curricular activities.

Children cannot be disciplined for not wearing a uniform if their parents do not want their child to wear it. However, a child that simply refuses to wear the school uniform can be disciplined by the school if it thinks that academic or disciplinary problems might be caused by the refusal. Many schools do have a policy covering the wearing of school clothing. The policy may state that certain items must be worn and that other items cannot be worn, for example, jeans. Schools must take religious and cultural requirements into account when drawing up a school uniform policy.

Although the way that the uniforms are worn are usually not an issue, although some state schools may have regulation on the subject (e.g. height of ties, whether the shirt is tucked in or not), the selection of clothes worn, whether they follow the policy, can be very strict. For example, in black and white colour uniform schools, wearing colours such as grey or wearing white shoes is forbidden. However in schools that only use a basic uniform (e.g. jumper and trousers) the policy is often less strict.

Singapore

Over one thousand students in uniform during an assembly at a secondary school in Singapore.

Uniform is compulsory for all students, not only at primary and secondary school but also at the pre-university (Junior College) level. Though the colors vary from school to school, the normal uniform for boys is shorts or long pants in the specified colour and material, with a short-sleeved shirt (often white) while girls' uniforms include pinafores or skirts, with blouses and shorts underneath.

Uniform requirements are laid down in great detail by each school and these are rigorously enforced. Colours and styles for shirts or blouses, and for trousers or skirts, are tightly specified, and in some cases the shirt or blouse must have military-style epaulettes, and/or a metal badge on each collar, and so on. Because of the tropical climate, blazers and ties are worn only for special occasions. In some schools, ties are also worn on Mondays. It is therefore the boy's shirt or girl's blouse, rather than a blazer as in the UK, on to which the school badge must be sewn. Nearly all schools require white socks and white shoes. Some schools forbid girls to wear coloured bras.

At almost all secondary schools, boys are not permitted to wear long trousers until they start secondary 3 (normally the year in which a student turns 15, but in certain cases he might be a year or even two years older). In a few schools, the year of changing from shorts to longs is secondary 4; and in one or two, such as Catholic High School, male students must wear short trousers throughout their time at the school.

South Africa

Typical example of an assembly in a South African school. All students are in uniform, with a sharp difference between the sexes.

As in many other former British colonies, all South African private and public schools have a uniform, and it is compulsory in all public schools and in the vast majority of private schools for children above pre-school level. Uniform types vary less between public and private schools than they do across regions, where schools in more rural areas tend to forgo the daily wearing of ties and/or blazers for boys and girls regardless of their public or private nature. However, many of these same schools will have a "number ones" uniform for special occasions which include such items. In cities such as Cape Town, on the other hand, it is more common to see formal apparel required in public and private schools on a daily basis. Many schools across South Africa also provide the choice between a summer and winter uniform, with khaki uniforms and brown shoes being very common in the summer. South African law has not required gender neutrality in school dress codes and a distinction between girls' and boys' uniforms remains. Boys of all ages are normally required to wear grey or khaki long or short trousers with socks, and the socks are usually long when worn with shorts, as in the illustration (right). Until recently, the straw boater was a common accessory in affluent public and private high schools, although these have now become optional in some cases.

South Korea

Main article: Korean school uniform

Almost all South Korean secondary students wear a uniform called Gyobok(Korean: 교복). The majority of elementary schools except some private elementary schools do not have uniforms; however, the uniform is strictly monitored from the start of middle school and up. Based on Western-style uniforms, the South Korean uniform usually consists of a shirt, blazer and tie, with skirts for girls and long grey trousers for boys. More recently, the uniform is often worn by celebrities who target the younger, teen audience to sell entertainment products. The school uniform and school setting is frequently used as a venue for romance. As a result, the uniform has become something akin to an expression of fashion amongst students.

Sri Lanka

All public and private schools in Sri Lanka require their students to wear uniforms. In public schools, this uniform is standard for boys with a white short sleeve shirt (long sleeve shirt for ceremonial occasions) and some schools allow long sleeve shirts with rolled up sleeves for normal schooling. Blue or white (white for ceremonial occasions in some schools) shorts for boys under grade 10 (15 years of age) and white longs for boys of and above grade 10.

Girls' uniforms may differ from school to school, however all uniforms are a white single piece frock. The differences may include the dress having short sleeves or no sleeves and having a collar or not. Most girls schools require their students to wear a tie.

For ceremonial occasions both boys and girls may wear the a white or black blazer (depending on the school, with its badge and also the blazer may be of a school colour; e.g.:- maroon) with the school's tie.

The materials required for uniform is distributed free by the government in public schools regardless of student's financial status, but it's not uncommon to use own funding instead of the distributed material.

International schools have their own individual uniforms of different color and styles.

Thailand

Thai school girls in uniform skirt and blouse.

In Thailand students of all ages from pre-school to college wear school uniforms. The uniforms from each school and age level are different. Generally, boys wear a white dress shirt and a pair of shorts. The color and length of the shorts varies per school. Male college students wear the same kind of uniform, but instead of shorts they wear black dress pants. Girls usually wear white blouses and a skirt. Their skirts vary in color and length depending upon the school and their ages. Generally the younger students wear long skirts that almost reach their ankles and the college students wear shorter ones. Skirts are generally blue or black but may be other colors too depending on the school. Some schools also have alternative uniforms which students of both genders wear every other day. These often consist of a colored shirt and slacks.

Tonga

Royal New Zealand Navy Petty Officer Richard Boyd dances with Tongan school children during a Pacific Partnership 2009 community service project at Faleloa Primary School.

In Tonga all schools require a uniform. Uniforms are usually in the colours of their respective churches and Red for Government Schools. Catholic schools are usually light blue, Wesleyan (Royal Blue), Anglican (Navy Blue) and LDS Schools (Green). A Ta'ovala bordered with school colours and a tupenu are usually worn by boys with a white button up shirt, Primary school students usually wear shorts and a white button up shirt. Nearly all Tongan secondary schools require girls to wear a pinafore dress with a white shirt except for Catholic schools which allow a striped blouse and skirt. Students are usually required to wear roman sandals in English medium schools and thongs in most other schools.

Turkey

Turkish school uniforms.

School uniforms are used in all public and private institutions. There are several exceptions and most kindergartens do not require school uniforms. The uniforms vary in their appearance; primary schools use one-piece blue uniforms while in secondary and highschools boys wear dark grey trousers with white shirts, jackets and a tie. Girls have skirts and shirts coloured like boys plus a tie. Most private institutions have their own uniforms. School uniforms for primary schools were black coloured until 1990s.

In summer months, teachers usually allow their students if they do not prefer to wear uniforms. Also during trips students usually do not wear uniforms. None of the universities or higher education institutes have uniforms.

School uniforms have a long history in Turkey. They were first introduced because normal clothing would give hints about the child's family's economic situation. In order to prevent groupings amongst children from different social classes, uniforms were accepted.

United Kingdom

For details of school uniform in each country of the United Kingdom, see: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

United States

Students in a Houston, Texas public high school wearing school uniforms.

In the United States, almost all schools have a dress code of some sort. Most of them specify what colors and types of clothes can be worn and what types of clothing accessories are allowed (i.e. belts, jewelry, earrings, etc). Uniforms in the United States are typically informal (along the style of "smart casual"), unlike those in the Britain and Latin America, whose dress codes are usually stricter. Normally, dress codes consist of items along the following lines:

A boy wearing the dress code prescribed by his school (any solid color polo shirt, tucked in; pants (no jeans); and solid color belt). This type of dress code is common in the U.S., even more so in cities.

Boys' Dress Codes

• Trousers - Mainstream schools require students wear trousers and shorts with a belt (see below).
• Collared shirts - Types usually depend on age of student. Younger children usually wear "dressy" solid-colored polo or golf shirts, while students who are older or in high school typically wear Oxfords or blouses. Most public secondary schools require students to tuck in shirts, however, dress codes are usually less strict in primary school. Although many schools have strict dress codes, the degree of enforcement varies.
• Tie - Required at nearly all private schools, but most public schools do not require them.
• Turtleneck
• Sweater
• Shorts - Some schools require students wear trousers or shorts with a belt (see below). In some schools, shorts are not allowed.
• Blazers - Usually in private or prep schools. Very uncommon elsewhere.
• Belt - Usually leather, with studs and rivets not allowed. About half of all public schools have rules about students wearing belts, with about 62 - 80% (percentages higher in urban and suburban areas) of those schools requiring that all students wear them at all times.
• Flat soled shoes or dress sneakers. Most students wear sneakers if they attend a public school, and dress shoes if they attend a private or inner-city school. Mainly, schools tend to leave choice of shoes to parents.

Girls' Dress Codes

• Skirts - Usually plaid or a solid color in private schools, but public schools usually offer more choices. Nearly all schools have a length requirement. Some public schools prohibit girls from wearing skirts.
• Skorts - More common in lower grades. At about 5th grade female students usually start to wear skirts or a jumper dress as part of a dress code or uniform.
• Jumper dresses - Common in private schools, but uncommon most everywhere else.
• Culottes
• Capri Pants - Usually not allowed in more strict schools. Some of the more informal public schools allow girls to wear them within certain guidelines.
• Trousers, more commonly referred to as Pants and Slacks - Some schools require female students wear skirts or skorts.
• Collared shirts - Types usually depend on age of student. Younger children usually wear "dressy" solid-colored polo or golf shirts, while students who are older or in high school typically wear Oxfords or blouses. About 40 - 60% of all public schools (percentages higher in urban and suburban areas) require students to tuck in shirts, although the degree of enforcement varies.
• Turtleneck
• Sweater
• Shorts - Some public schools prohibit girls from wearing shorts.
• Tennis Dress - Uncommon in schools with and without dress codes in urban areas.
• Tights - Private schools and schools with strict dress codes usually require girls wear these with a skirt or jumper.
• Knee Socks - See tights description above.
• Leggings
• Bike Shorts which are like short leggings or tights. Not allowed in many schools.
• Flat soled shoes or dress sneakers. Most students wear sneakers if they attend a public school, and dress shoes if they attend a private or inner-city school. Mainly, schools tend to leave choice of shoes to parents.

Uniform Studies & Legislation

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) conducted a phone survey of 755 principals in 2000, which revealed that 21% of all public schools had a uniform policy, however, 23% had firm plans to create one. However, this only accounts for those with school uniform policies, and not for standardized dress codes, which still provide for allowable student dress but are slightly more lax on certain aspects, for instance, instead of requiring everyone to wear the exact same shirt, or set of shirts, they may specify "any solid collared three button Polo/oxford shirt" and leave more specific details up to the parents. In fact, in 2007-2008 55% of public school principals said the schools they control enforces a strict dress code, requiring students at least wear a collared shirt and pants with an acceptable belt to school.

Adolfo Santos, a political science professor at the University of Houston–Downtown, stated that many Hispanic communities in the United States choose uniforms because many immigrants originate from countries with schools requiring uniforms.

Sylvan I. Alleyne, Velma LaPoint, Jennifer Lee and Harold W. Mitchell of The Journal of Negro Education stated that little empirical research exists regarding how effective school uniforms are in how effectively uniforms enhance academic performance and social environments, and also that little research exists regarding teachers' beliefs regarding the nature of issues related to dress codes, and especially so regarding racial and ethnic minorities. In the United States, literature regarding public school student clothing and behavior cites anecdotal viewpoints from teachers, and the literature discussed opinions on faculty, staff, and other employees on how to deal with student dress issues. A 2003 article of The Journal of Negro Education said that research and reports regarding the beneficial impact of school uniforms was not conclusive. Also, despite the Federal Government of the United States issuing a set of guidelines encouraging school uniform usage in American public schools, as of 2003 political support for uniforms varies.

In 1994, the Long Beach Unified School District, in Southern California, required school uniforms in all elementary and middle schools. This began a trend for uniforms in American elementary public schools, especially in urban school districts. President Clinton mentioned LBUSD's efforts in his 1996 State of the Union Address. The adoption of school or district-wide uniform policies (or, alternatively, "standardized dress codes" – which are not as rigid as school uniform requirements, but allow some leeway within set parameters) has been motivated by a need to counter "gang clothing" (or, in the alternative, the pressure for families to purchase upscale-label clothing to avoid their children being ignored by "fashion cliques"), as well as to improve morale and school discipline.

By 2010, the percentage of U.S. public schools requiring uniforms had increased from 3% in 1996 to 18%.

In Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Education requires all students to wear school uniforms, and only allows for medical exemptions.

Venezuela

School uniforms in Venezuela.

School uniforms are used in Venezuela. All school children have to wear them. By Venezuelan decree, uniforms are required at all schools in all grades. Students in nursery are often referred to as "yellow shirts", after the color of uniform they must wear according to the Uniform Law, while students in kindergarten are called "red shirts".

Wales

The Welsh Assembly Government issued detailed guidance to governing bodies on uniform and appearance policies that begins by making explicit, "There is no education legislation specifically covering the wearing of school uniform or other aspects of appearance such as hair colour and style, and the wearing of jewellery and makeup. However, as part of its responsibility for the conduct of the school, a governing body can specify a uniform which pupils are required to wear and other rules relating to appearance."

Efficacy

The efficacy of uniforms, in improving academic performance and student attitudes, is often debated.

A study published in The Journal of Educational Research by David L. Brunsma, of the University of Alabama, and Kerry A. Rockquemore, of the University of Notre Dame, states:

"The findings indicate that student uniforms have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems, or attendance. A negative effect of uniforms on student academic achievement was found."

In Vivian Gussin Paley's book, White Teacher, she discusses the need to embrace differences, not ignore them.

A randomized study by Evans et al. looked at the effect of school uniforms on Kenyan children's truancy and grades between 2001-2004. The project included giving school uniforms to children who could otherwise not afford one (and consequently may have suffered from various forms of stigma discouraging school attendance). The authors summarized that "giving a school uniform reduces school absenteeism by 44% for the average student, and 62% for students who did not previously own a uniform. The program also raised test scores for recipients by 0.25 standard deviations in the year after inception."

Laws and rulings against school uniforms

In the Australian state of Queensland, Ombudsman Fred Albietz ruled in 1998 that public schools may not require uniforms.

In 2006, a new Education Act was passed within Queensland, Australia. This Act gives school staff within the public education system the power to assign punishment for non-compliance with school uniform dress code. According to the Act, students may not be suspended or expelled for non-compliance with the dress code. Punishment consists of one only of the following three choices for each non-compliance: 1. Detention. 2. Exclusion from any activity that is a non-essential part of the school's education program. 3. Exclusion from any activity where the student will be representing the school.

In the Philippines, the Department of Education abolished the requirement of school uniforms in public schools per DepEd Order No. 45, s. 2008. However, a school attire was required under DepEd Order No. 46, s. 2008. The following were "suggested" as proper school attire in the latter order: Polo shirt or t-shirt with sleeves and pants for males; dresses, skirt and blouse or blouse and pants for females.

In England and Wales, technically a state school may not permanently exclude students for "breaching school uniform policy", under a policy promulgated by the Department for Children, Schools and Families but students not wearing the correct uniform are asked to go home and change.

In Scotland, some local councils (that have responsibility for delivering state education) do not insist on students wearing a uniform as a precondition to attending and taking part in curricular activities.

Turkey abolished mandatory uniforms in 2010.

In the United States, a few states have regulations declaring that public schools must allow students to drop out of uniform policies. Although Section 83 of the Massachusetts Legislature appears to prohibit dress codes in public schools by declaring that schools may not "abridge the rights of students as to personal dress and appearance", Section 86 states that "The provisions of sections eighty-three to eighty-five, inclusive, shall apply only to cities and towns which accept the same" and other sections of the law allow schools to impose dress codes, and in fact many public schools in Massachusetts (mostly in the Boston area) have mandatory school uniforms.

In 1969, the United States Supreme Court ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District affirmed students' rights to free expression in public schools, although this related to the wearing of a black armband (not to uniforms as such). California Education Code 48907 affirms students' rights to "the wearing of buttons, badges, and other insignia" as well freedom of speech in student publications, subject to limited restrictions.

See also

• Schoolgirl uniform fetish
• Uniform

Sources cited

• Alleyne, Sylvan I., Velma LaPoint, Jennifer Lee and Harold W. Mitchell. "Black Educators' Views on Middle School Students' Dress and Uniforms: Addressing Challenges from Commercialism." The Journal of Negro Education. Vol. 72, No. 4, Commercialism in the Lives of Children and Youth of Color: Education and Other Socialization Contexts (Autumn, 2003), pp. 418-426.

External links

• Should school uniforms be mandated in elementary schools?
• Long Beach Unified School District Uniform Initiative: A Prevention-Intervention Strategy for Urban Schools, The
• NAESP : >>Information and Resources: Public School Uniforms
• What's in a school uniform? BBC
• School Uniform: Japan at Boys' Historical Clothing
• Design & Mystique of the Japanese School Uniform at yingyang
• A Typical United States of America School Dress Code