Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
10 January 2024 | 06:24 CAT

Image Credits : School Uniform (GroundUp)

South Africa’s inland schools kick off their academic year on Wednesday. There have been frustrations raised over the pricing of school uniforms.

Stockists of school uniforms say prices have increased around 20% since January last year, adding yet another cost to be picked up by parents. This is especially hard on low-income families already facing the mammoth task of just putting enough food on the table in the current economic climate.

Parents are looking to the Competition Commission for help.

The commission has been inundated with complaints from parents about schools forcing them to buy uniforms from its shop or a specific supplier at a huge cost.

Commission spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga said it received about 220 complaints since January 2023 from parents alleging they could not buy uniforms at a shop of their choice and “as a result, they are forced to pay high prices for school uniforms”.

While it would make more sense and be a lower cost to parents for all pupils in public schools to wear the same uniform and change, for example, just the specific school’s ties or socks to differentiate between the different schools, the Department of Basic Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mahlangu pointed out it is important to understand the balance of power between the school and school uniform supplier lies with the school.

“We are not able to intervene in this regard as the law empowers the school governing body to decide the uniform they want to use in their own school,” says Mahlangu.

According to Mahlangu, the decisions around the uniform of the school governing body are usually based on the economic background and the school’s location.

There are also concerns about the price of school stationery, which only applies to fee-paying schools.

“Parents are allowed to purchase stationary from any retailer where they find it cheapest. However, we are not in a position to dictate to the retailers a price on each item that parents may need,” Mahlangu says.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Elijah Mahlangu.