As if on cue, parents across New Zealand are starting to raise concerns about the price of compulsory school uniforms ahead of the start of the new school year.
The cost of new uniforms can range from about $80 to more than $1200 for a single pupil. This is a big upfront investment, followed by the ongoing costs to replace worn-out or small items.
Yes, school uniforms are an investment in clothing that lasts for years and can be cheaper in the long run than ordinary clothing.
But it is hard to apply this investment mindset during a cost-of-living crisis.
Our ongoing research examines uniforms and equity in New Zealand and includes interviews with school leaders and pupils across three schools. Irrespective of a school’s equity index rating (formerly decile), the school leaders interviewed said uniform cost was raising concerns.
The survey of pupils in one school in a higher socioeconomic area found nearly 20% of the 630 respondents worried about whether their parents could afford their uniform. Across three surveyed schools, most staff knew pupils who were not able to afford some items.
Surveyed staff reported balancing the benefits of having a ‘‘uniform’’ body of pupils against creating a barrier to education through high garment costs.
So what can be done to ensure pupils experience the benefits of school uniforms without added pressure on struggling families? Turns out, international examples can guide us.
Debates are never just about the uniform itself. Politics, power, class and tradition can influence decisions about compulsory garments.
Evidence shows any well-designed uniform can help pupils settle and remove classroom distractions. Pupils are physically comfortable, active, feel like they fit in and are ready to learn.
But there is a persistent belief that a formal blazer and tie is somehow better than a simple uniform, even though there is no evidence the type of school uniform directly influences academic achievement.
In New Zealand, school boards determine uniform garments and rules. From an ethical standpoint, boards should ensure that school uniforms do not create an undue cost barrier to education.
Obviously, boards cannot control the cost of raw materials from which uniforms are made. But they can control adherence to Commerce Commission guidelines on school uniform and supplies, and their school’s list of compulsory school uniform items.
New school uniforms are usually bought from specialist suppliers, directly or via the school. In New Zealand there is a broad choice of suppliers, from large corporates to small family businesses.
But maintaining real and competitive choice depends on competition in and for the market — and it is here where schools can have a real influence on price by adhering to the commission’s guidelines.
This includes conducting a regular review of the schools’ uniforms and having a mix of suppliers — ideally avoiding problems of sole-supplier or ‘‘evergreen’’ arrangements.
Relying on best practice and guidelines is not enough to ensure everyone can afford and access school uniforms. The rules do not appear to be proactively monitored and rely on complaints from the public.
Instead, it is time for the government to intervene more to improve access to uniforms and education.
To ensure the supply process is as fair as possible, the government could follow international examples and introduce legislation on best practice.
The United Kingdom’s Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021 outlines what schools must consider in their uniform policies and supplier arrangements.
Under this legislation, most uniform items should be available from any shop, not just specific retailers.
While not a silver bullet, such legislation creates a hook for authorities to check and monitor school uniform cost and policy. The law also gives the government a baseline understanding of uniform cost and composition in the UK.
The New Zealand government could take several steps when it comes to school uniforms, including making subsidies for uniform costs more accessible and less bureaucratic. The government could legislate state funding of school uniforms for high-need pupils.
Currently, low-income families have to take out what are essentially loans from Work and Income. This then places pressure on these families to survive on less income while paying back the loans.
The government could also establish a national uniform bulk buyer, similar to the national drug-buying agency, Pharmac. But while this would be a pragmatic approach to the issue of school uniform cost, it might not be widely supported.
That said, what governments decide to do depends on who bends the ear of power. Everyone with a stake in this issue — pupils, schools, teachers, charities and communities — needs to contact their local politicians to ensure they are aware of the issue and the possible solutions.
At the school level, boards should have a detailed uniform policy that supports human rights and reflects school values. But this policy needs to be transparent and adaptable, with a detailed review process.
Schools also need to periodically check their uniform still serves pupil and community needs, including the number and cost of compulsory items (for example, whether blazers are necessary and whether all items have to be monogrammed), or whether the school decides to fund uniforms to meet pupil need.
Regardless of the approach, it is time to address school uniform cost head on so we can optimise investment in pupils’ education. — theconversation.com
■Johanna Reidy is a lecturer in public health at the University of Otago. She and colleagues Lucy Telfar Barnard and Michaela Pettie are studying school uniform use in New Zealand.
