About school uniforms
Use of school uniforms by country
Why would you want to make children wear school uniforms, anyway?
With controversy about policing students’ clothing from the U.S. to Zambia, one might question the wisdom of requiring school uniforms in the first place. But there are various arguments in favor of uniforms:
- School uniforms mean that students aren’t competing in their attire, so hopefully more attention stays on their studies. Uniforms can downplay economic differences between students that would otherwise be more apparent.
- School uniforms can instill a feeling of community among students.
- Through the increased sense of community and the reduced salience of economic inequality, uniforms could improve discipline.
- School uniforms may make it easier to identify unauthorized visitors to the school.
- School uniforms reduce the time students spend deciding what to wear, allowing more time for sleeping or studying.
Of course, there are also potential downsides. Uniforms restrict students’ opportunity to express themselves. Most importantly, school uniforms will not solve the most fundamental challenges with quality education.
Do free school uniforms help children stay in school? (worldbank.org)
School uniforms around the world
Eton college (koulumaksu noin 60 000 € vuodessa, koulu ulkoa),
Classrooms around the world
| Syria (sotatilanne) | Uganda | Brazil | Nigeria |
| Mosul, Irak | Pakistan | Florida, USA | Brazil |
| Bangladesh pakolaisleiri | China | Côte d'Ivoire | Chile |
| South Sudan (pakolaisleiri) | Ukraine | Malaysia | UK |