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 the changes make ‘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.
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 (file photo)
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’.
The education minister’s changes come just a week after one 11-year-old Perth girl convinced her state to change the dress code policy at public schools.
Sofia Myhre, from Perth, called on Education Minister Sue Ellery to consider amending Western Australia’s dress code to allow girls to wear shorts to school.
The Wembley youngster revealed her school recently changed the outdated uniform policy – meaning girls are no longer restricted to wearing dresses or skirts.
Education Minister James Merlino said the changes make ‘common sense’ and that schools had to provide options ‘as far as practicable’ (file photo)
Sofia Myhre (pictured with her mother Krystina) who wanted to wear shorts to school has won her battle to change the uniform policy in Western Australia after penning a candid letter
And following her passionate plea, public schools across the state will now offer girls the option to wear shorts and pants.
‘I thought it was unfair that my brothers got to wear shorts when they wanted to and they could play sport freely,’ little Sofia told 7 News.
Her mother Krystina Myhre said the move to change the dress code is ‘one step closer to equality for women’.
In her daughter’s letter to the education minister, Sofia revealed she was previously not allowed to wear shorts to school unless they were playing sports.
‘I don’t like wearing skirts to school,’ she wrote.
‘I think it’s really unfair that my brothers have been allowed to wear shorts all through primary school. I haven’t been allowed to except when I have sport.
‘The dresses are even worse but at least you don’t have to wear them!”
The 11-year-old called on Education Minister Sue Ellery to consider amending Western Australia’s dress code to allow girls to wear shorts to school
The Wembley youngster revealed her school recently changed the outdated uniform policy – meaning girls are no longer restricted to wearing dresses or skirts
‘I really love kicking the footy, netball and doing handstands at recess and lunch. It is annoying doing these things in a skirt.’
Little Sofia said she feels happier after her school made the decision not to limit students to wearing only dresses or skirts.
‘I am very happy about this,’ she wrote. ‘I want you to know that we feel more confident now. I think it should be a new rule for every schools so it’s fair for everyone.’
The education minister – who recently met with Sofia and her mother – has since asked the department to amend the state’s dress code.
‘In 2017, we want 11-year-old girls to be active at school, we want to encourage them to be active,’ Ellery told 7 News.
‘And if they feel uncomfortable doing that in a skirt, we should give them the option of shorts.’
Little Sofia said she feels more ‘confident’ after her school made the decision not to limit students to wearing only dresses or skirts