The wearing of school uniforms remains mandatory in Barbados and the Ministry of Education has not made any provision for children to wear their own clothes when the academic year 2020 to 2021 begins in September.
Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw is clearing the air after an article appeared in another section of the press, quoting her as saying that uniforms may not be required when school begins on September 21.
“We did not say that at all, I gave the example that the Ministry of Education was willing to make accommodations for the students who were leaving Class 4 and who would have outgrown their uniforms,” she told Nation News.
“I was conveying the view that at the time I did not feel that for the four weeks that they had remaining to return to school, that it was necessary for them to wear school uniforms, which could not fit them due gaining weight in the lockdown. I also felt that it was not necessary for parents to go out to purchase new material to make sure that their children were in compliance with the school rules. So, we made accommodations where necessary.”
Bradshaw said the issue of school uniforms was never tabled at any consultations with stakeholders and therefore was not under consideration. (CLM)
