Queensland schoolgirls will be able to wear shorts instead of skirts with the government set to bring the state’s uniform policy into the modern age.
Education Minister Grace Grace said she would change the policy to formally allow girls who attended state schools to wear shorts and pants, as well as skirts and dresses.
‘In today’s day and age, there should be no reason why shorts and pants aren’t made part of the school formal uniform,’ the minister told ABC radio on Monday.
Queensland schoolgirls will now be able to wear shorts instead of skirts (stock picture)
Ms Grace said the change was about giving girls a choice.
‘Everyone should be entitled to be able to choose shorts and pants.’
In January outraged parents shamed Queensland schools for having ‘ridiculous’ uniform policies after several children received detentions for not wearing the correct shoes.
Students from the Gold Coast’s Upper Coomera State High copped all-day detentions for wearing non-leather black shoes, while children at nearby Helensvale State High were forced to borrow the correct footwear.
In Brisbane, Karen Bishop’s daughter was handed a detention for wearing a pair of black, leather Vans – reducing her to tears.
‘It’s ridiculous to give school children detention for a pair of shoes,’ the Brisbane mother said at the time.
The government is bringing the state’s uniform policy into the modern age (stock picture)
The move follows the decision in September which declared girls at all Victoria state schools will no longer be forced to wear dresses and skirts, and instead will be given the choice of shorts or pants as well.
Education Minister James Merlino said at the time the changes made ‘common sense’ and that schools had to provide options ‘as far as practicable’.
‘It’s a relatively minor change to ensure that our expectation is that every school does provide the option of shorts and pants for girls,’ Merlino told 3AW on Wednesday.
Merlino said that he was considering options to ‘ensure’ that girls at all government schools would be provided the freedom to choose.
‘While the vast majority of schools already offer the option of female students wearing shorts or pants, it is something I would expect all government schools to do,’ he told the Herald Sun.
Merlino added that all schools ‘must adhere to human rights and anti-discrimination requirements’.