All public schools will be FORCED to offer girls the option to wear pants instead of skirts as part of a ‘new modern makeover’ of uniform policy
- Girls will be offered option to wear pants or shorts instead of skirts and dresses
- NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes scrapped a 24-page school uniform policy
- Previously had been at school’s discretion to allow girls to choose their uniform
- The new two-page policy will make it mandatory to offer a shorts or pants option
- Brings state’s policy in line with Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia
- Queensland schoolgirls will be offered choice to wear pants or shorts from 2019
Girls will be offered the option to wear pants or shorts instead of skirts and dresses at every public school as part of a statewide ‘modern makeover’ of uniform policy.
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes this week scrapped a 24-page school uniform document in favour of a new two-page policy, The Daily Telegraph reported.
While it had previously been at a school’s discretion to allow girls to choose their uniform, the new policy will make it mandatory to offer a shorts or pants option.
‘Parents asked for a better policy and I am proud to provide one. It is important to remember families need to have access to the most affordable uniforms possible,’ Mr Stokes said.
Girls will be offered the option to wear pants or shorts instead of skirts and dresses at every NSW public school (stock image)
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian supported the move, noting that in her school days there was no uniform option for girls.
‘The new modern makeover makes uniforms practical and comfortable for students, with affordability for parents front and centre,’ Ms Berejiklian said.
The move brings the state’s uniform policy in line with Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia – and promises to protect working families against rising costs.
Queensland schoolgirls will be offered the choice to wear pants or shorts from 2019.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian supported the move, noting in her school days there was no uniform option for girls
‘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 state’s Education Minister Grace Grace told ABC radio earlier this year.
That move followed the decision in September which declared girls at all Victoria state schools would no longer be forced to wear dresses and skirts.
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,’ Mr Merlino told 3AW.
The move brings the state’s uniform policy in line with Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia (stock)
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