What’s in a school uniform?

school uniforms have outlived their relevance.
Culture defines humans. It is the declaration of exclusivity. Culture is embedded in a people’s norms, values and most importantly in their dressing.

As dressing is a part of a people’s culture, school children are not left behind. Blazers, badges, pleated and not pleated skirts, ties, stockings and all other accessories play a vital role in defining a student.

School uniforms all over the world set children from different schools apart. Uniforms are important in that they carry the culture of the school which is normally than not, a culture to pass or a culture to succeed in sporting events.

When Cool Lifestyle visited different schools across the country, students expressed pride in donning the colours of their schools.

Tafadzwa Mutawu, a Sixth Form student at Prince Edward Boys School, said he feels proud of the maroon and dark green colours of the school.

“I feel so proud and honoured to be clad in this uniform. This green and maroon garment is a physical realisation of the blood that runs in me, we are the best in whatever we do,” he said.

Another student at Chishawasha Girls School, Mitchell Shonhiwa, reiterated the same opinion saying; “I think this is the best uniform any girl could ever dream of putting on. It represents our high levels of intelligence, moral anchorage as well as our hard work.”

Besides uniform being a form of identity it puts students at the same level. No student becomes too flashy at the expense of his or her peers’ comfort.

One teacher at a local Government school said; “If schools had no uniforms anarchy would reign supreme in schools. Just to show how important uniforms are just take a look at students on Civics Day.

“Uniforms put them on the same level. You will not be able to tell who comes from the well-to-do families or not.”

However, some people expressed different opinions saying this old tradition is now irrelevant especially in the 21st century.

“I don’t think school uniforms are still relevant. The idea of uniforms has to do with controlling children’s behaviour but they get it all wrong.

“Uniforms are only aiding children lose morality as some men target those in uniforms more than those not in uniforms,” Tendai Mudavanhu said.

He argued that school uniforms provided a mob psychology effect to students.
One parent who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Through school uniforms it was easy to paint the whole school with the same brush.

“Negative perceptions on some schools have stuck up to now as a result of uniforms,” she said.