Have you ever wondered why students wear uniforms? This is why; Most schools have a uniform. It is this attire that delineates who they are for it is also embroidered with a badge that has the name of the school, its location and a school motto. A uniform is one of the requirements that each student must have in most schools. It is capable of instilling discipline and pride, and also believed to ‘lift’ grades as it crafts a more formal and academic atmosphere. Imagine a school where every student has a right to wear what they wish. This has potential to create divisionism as some students would afford expensive attires while others wouldn’t- this is something that would affect their concentration in class. This is why Tina Umulinga a student in Kigali believes that school uniforms help lessen harmful judgments between students from different economic backgrounds adding that this would encourage them to socialise and hence help nurture healthy relationships. She notes that school uniforms also create a sense of uniformity- a description and identification of the kind of school a student studies from. She says that this gives students a chance to show the world the name of their school and where it is located. This can also be a marketing or advertising tactic for schools to win or attract new students, she adds. Umulinga explains that school uniforms enable students to be proud of their schools and look different from other students as well. There is increased school safety when students are dressed uniformly. She also notes, uniforms allow students to worry less about what to wear every single day since it is the same attire; therefore, there is less worry of following the latest trends. “This pushes them to stay focused on their books because, as long as they are at school, they are the same. Uniforms create a sense of simplicity.” School uniforms enable students to be responsible, that it to say, they avoid engaging in weird activities and attending strange places like bars, as they feel out of place because they are supposed to represent the school positively, she enlightens. According to Barbara Kantengwa, a teacher at APAPEC-Irebero School, Gisozi, a school uniform enables students to be smart and organised. She further says school leaders and authorities can easily identify their students if they are dressed in uniforms. That is why some students that abuse the school uniform are punished. School uniforms can also support a spirit of cooperation where the students can feel a part of something bigger than themselves. This permits them to seek the value of a shared team effort, she stresses. Kantengwa also points out that school uniforms can help learners feel part of the community (school community) and hence averting unnecessary issues that would arise in wearing the wrong clothes for school. Through wearing school uniforms, learners feel safe and healthy. They create togetherness as students learn and grow together in a safe environment, she adds. “When a student wears a uniform, he finds a way to express himself. For learners, a uniform is a formal attire of pride, and instead of distracting their attention with ‘colourful’ clothes, they are more focused on structuring their internal personality,” Kantengwa explains. School uniforms create a relationship between teachers and students. Research shows that teachers see students in a more respectful light and students are perceived to have a more optimistic attitude and conduct when they are in uniforms. This, in the end, creates a more efficient learning environment for both teachers and learners. Kantengwa explains that a school uniform prepares learners to be organised and be prepared as well for the future for example when it comes to respecting the dress code for work. She says such students that respect wearing a uniform learn lessons in regards to accountability as there are normally penalties associated with dress code violations. James Gakumba, a parent and resident of Kanombe, Kigali is of the view that students who wear uniforms have a habit of showing respect for authority and order. This, therefore, fashions an environment in which possible conflict can be handled in a more confident and helpful manner. “As a parent, I don’t have to buy a uniform every year or more often, this enables me spend on other school requirements that children require. Without a uniform, parents could be spending much money on casual clothes for school,” he states. Gakumba stresses that there is increased school safety when students are dressed uniformly. It is easier to identify non-students and strangers, better equipping the school staff to handle questionable situations accordingly. He adds, in cases where a student gets a problem, like an accident, it is easy to locate the school where they study from, hence easy to find out their parents or relatives.
