All kinds of expensive uniforms

After VietNamNet published information about Khanh Hoa province ’s regulation of uniform design for the whole province and reflected the reality in many localities, parents were spending a lot of money because they had to buy many types of uniforms for their children, many readers responded and commented on this issue. Many people think that the regulation of uniform design for each school, changing the design every few years is causing great waste for families and society.

Responding to VietNamNet, parent Ha An said: “At the beginning of the year, my child had to buy 2 summer sets (short-sleeved shirt, shorts), 2 long-sleeved shirt and pants sets, 1 summer sports set, 1 winter sports set, 1 jacket… Total cost more than 2 million VND, not to mention having to buy pants separately.”

Ms. Ban Mai expressed a common suffering: "My child's school requires the purchase of 2 long-sleeved shirts, 2 short-sleeved shirts, 1 pair of pants, 1 skirt, 1 vest, 1 jacket, and summer and winter gym uniforms. In addition, the class also makes its own uniforms, with different designs for every event, making the wardrobe full, but many of the outfits are still brand new."

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Students attend the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year at Nguyen Tat Thanh Primary School ( Nam Dinh ). Photo: Pham Trong Tung

"The thing is, the new uniforms cannot be given to anyone because each school has its own uniform style. I can't even wear my sister's because after a few years the style and color change. In my family, both of us went to the same school, but my sister wore a white shirt, dark blue pants, and a navy blue striped jacket. 3 years later, my sister went to the same school and her uniform was a white shirt but with a different pattern on the sleeves, cream pants, and a green striped jacket," another parent added.

This person said that most parents are spending from 1.5 to 2 million VND on uniforms for their children per year, even up to more than 3 million VND in some places, but then they cannot take advantage of it, so it is a waste.

Ms. Ngoc Kim was upset: "I don't understand why you need so many clothes for school or a fashion show? Is it because the school is free of tuition that they are trying to collect more money through uniforms?"

Mr. Bach Nhat emphasized: "Many parents hope that uniforms will be simplified and flexible so that they can be saved, and can be donated and reused for other children."

Not only is it expensive, many parents also think that uniforms are impractical and difficult to reuse or donate to children in difficult circumstances.

In addition to money, many parents also complain about the quality of uniforms: the fabric is hot, does not absorb sweat, the design is either too tight around the legs or cumbersome, making students have to endure it all day.

Mr. Phan Huy Binh frankly said: “The children wear them 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, even if the style is ugly, the material must be cool and airy. Meanwhile, I see that in many schools, the uniforms of the students are made of such bad material, hot and stuffy, no different from plastic bags. When the children come home from school, their hair is sticky with sweat, their faces are red, it is so pitiful.”

A parent in Hanoi shared: “My child’s school requires 3 types of uniforms: red uniform on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, white uniform on Tuesday and Thursday, and sportswear on physical education days. But the fabric of all the uniforms is too hot, while my child has to wear the same type made by the school, and it’s difficult for me to go out and buy better material.”

To save money or buy uniforms for their children made of more breathable, comfortable material, some parents share the method of buying uniforms at the store, then finding a place to buy a logo or cutting a logo from an old shirt and attaching it.

Proposal to unify uniforms across the province and the country

One prominent idea that many parents agreed with was the need for uniforms to be uniform at the local or national level. This would not only save money but also make it more feasible to donate and reuse clothes.

Reader Le Thoai suggested: "The Ministry of Education and Training should unify the school uniform model for the whole country, avoiding having different styles in each place, causing difficulties for parents, especially the poor." He also said that "parent associations should not participate in choosing uniform models."

Sharing this view, reader Oanh Nguyen mentioned the model in Khanh Hoa, where uniforms have been simplified to reduce the burden, and emphasized: "I really hope the Ministry of Education and Training has more specific regulations like that."

Parent Viet Linh agreed: "When all students have the same uniform, many families can donate uniforms to students in more difficult circumstances, avoiding waste."

A parent named Dung expressed: "The Ministry of Education and Training should take the lead in the matter of school uniforms and have common regulations for all schools to follow. It will be difficult for schools with equal roles to decide." This father added that in his locality, after the administrative boundaries were rearranged, the name of his child's kindergarten also changed, which led to a change in uniforms - including 3 types of children who change in a week.

School uniforms, in essence, are to create equality and build the school’s image. However, as Mr. Thuyen Bui said: “Uniforms are good, but schools should not abuse them, causing difficulties for parents.”

The issue is not whether there is a uniform or not, but the uniform needs to be designed simply, made of comfortable materials, reasonably priced and highly consistent. Then, the uniform will truly be a source of pride and convenience, instead of becoming a burden at the beginning of the school year for parents and students.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chat-tu-vi-dong-phuc-phu-huynh-ngan-ngam-vi-lang-phi-chang-the-cho-tang-ai-2432794.html