MoE Rejects Push for Standardized School Uniforms Nationwide
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has confirmed that it’s not feasible to have a single uniform for all students across the nation. Machogu reiterated this viewpoint while speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Implementation on a Tuesday. He responded to claims that his Ministry was reluctant to support a proposal put forth by lawmakers.
He clarified that the varied climate conditions in the country make a standardized uniform impractical. In regions with cold weather, warm clothing like sweaters is essential, while in hot areas, lighter clothing is more appropriate. Machogu also emphasized that different uniforms represent distinct cultural traditions.
According to him, school uniforms have taken on the role of tradition, and the diverse climate and weather conditions across the country make a one-size-fits-all uniform impossible.
While Machogu acknowledged the committee’s previous advice to create a policy preventing cartels from colluding with school principals to force parents to buy uniforms from specific shops, he maintained that he had issued a circular to schools, urging parents not to fall victim to such practices.
Also:Â School on The Spot For Causing Distress to 2023 KCSE Candidate
The committee, however, pointed out that a circular is not the same as a comprehensive policy and stressed the need for one regarding the standardization and production of school uniforms in the country.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) initially proposed the idea of standardizing uniforms nationwide. In January, Public Service CS Moses Kuria also endorsed this idea, stating that schools should not be involved in uniform sales.
He emphasized the Ministry of Education’s focus on prioritizing academic activities and implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
A similar effort to standardize learning included painting all school buses yellow.
MoE Rejects Push for Standardized School Uniforms Nationwide
