Parents to make a call on the future of school uniforms

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has moved to tackle the cost of school uniforms by strengthening the role of parents in how schools decide their uniform policies.

According to the Minister’s office a template questionnaire is to be compiled, which schools will then use to consult with parents regarding whether or not they want a school uniform from the 2014/5 school year.

It’s envisaged parents will be asked to vote on a series of options, including whether they want a uniform or not; whether they want trousers, jumpers, blouses, shirts and skirts in colours that are available in large retail chains and whether they want a school blazer and the school crest on uniform items.

Minister Quinn said  he believes empowering parents to determine school uniform policy is the most effective way to tackle back to school costs.

“I have consistently said that schools should listen to the parents on this matter since it is parents who incur the costs arising from the decisions that schools make,” the Minister said. “Balloting all parents should ensure that a school fully captures the views of its parent body.”

The Department will issue the template questionnaire to schools by the end of this month. Schools are expected to complete the ballots by the end of February, which will give Boards of Management adequate time to consider the parents’ wishes and to determine the schools uniform policy for the next school year.