Parents upset with 'see-through' gym uniforms

Poor quality uniforms

When I brought home the new uniform I bought for my 3rd grader, my 8th grader commented, "It's more see-through than your school's uniform!"

I held the uniform up to the light to examine it and saw my two children smiling. At that moment, I said: "This uniform is even more see-through than my mother's."

Những bộ đồng phục thể dục 'xuyên thấu' - Ảnh 1. — "See-through" gym uniform

In my time (early 8X generation), the school's gym uniforms were of average quality and had a simple, loose design: white T-shirt and black/dark blue elastic pants. Because the school's prices were quite reasonable, equal to the prices outside, we were satisfied with the quality of "you get what you pay for".

By my child’s time, the PE uniforms, although still in the same style and color, seem to have gone down in quality. The price of a PE uniform at the two public schools (primary and secondary) my child attends is around 150,000 VND.

These two uniforms have in common that they are thin and very thin, have poor sweat absorption, and the seams between the edges of the fabric are not sewn with separate stitches but are overlocked, so the threads at the hems of the shirts and pants are easily loose.

The seam quality is poor, so if students move too vigorously, the thread can easily break/tear and "expose" the goods.

Most female students from junior high school and above will limit strenuous exercise and excessive running and jumping because they have reached puberty and are shy in front of the opposite sex. Therefore, gym uniforms need to be sturdy and highly sweat-absorbent.

Schools need to ensure the quality of uniforms.

Previously, my child's elementary school only specified the color of the gym uniform and parents proactively bought/made it outside. The school would sell name tags and badges to attach to the shirt.

Thanks to that, parents can "improvise"; children who are chubby, run around and are more active than their friends will be able to choose clothes with suitable materials. Children can both follow the school uniform regulations and feel comfortable and safe with clothes that fit their body.

However, in the new school year 2023-2024, the school suddenly announced that parents must buy the school's gym uniform. When parents came to buy it, they were even "warned" to buy 2 sets/child because the quantity was limited.

In fact, everyone knows the sensitive issue is that the more a school manages and sells necessary items such as notebook covers, books, clothes, hats, etc., the more revenue it will have, but parents and students will have to bear many difficulties.

School uniforms are necessary to avoid inequality and discrimination between students and to facilitate the majority of parents.

However, schools must ensure the quality of uniforms. I just hope that every school always puts the interests of students first before making decisions that directly affect students. If we do that, the slogan "every day at school is a happy day" will become a reality instead of just a big sign hanging outside the school gate.

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