Calls are growing for the government to regulate the practice of schools selling uniforms directly to learners, amid concerns that the system has become a financial burden for many parents.
Kimani Ichung'wah has urged the government to develop clear policies that would stop schools from selling uniforms to students. According to the lawmaker, the practice often leaves parents with little choice but to buy uniforms from schools, sometimes at significantly higher prices.
Speaking on the issue, Ichung’wah argued that many institutions have effectively monopolised uniform sales, locking out local traders and tailors who could provide the same uniforms at more affordable prices. He said parents should be free to purchase school uniforms from any supplier as long as they meet the required standards set by the school.
Education stakeholders say the issue has been a long-standing concern, with some parents complaining about strict requirements that force them to buy uniforms only from specific shops approved by schools. In some cases, parents say they are required to replace uniforms even when existing ones are still usable.
Supporters of school-controlled uniform sales argue that the system helps maintain uniform quality and ensures consistency in design and colour across the student population. However, critics say the arrangement has increasingly been used by some institutions as a revenue stream.
If new policies are introduced, they could open the market to wider competition, potentially lowering the cost of uniforms for families already struggling with rising education expenses.
The debate now raises a broader question about the cost of education and how policies can balance quality standards with affordability for parents.
Kimani Ichung'wah has urged the government to develop clear policies that would stop schools from selling uniforms to students. According to the lawmaker, the practice often leaves parents with little choice but to buy uniforms from schools, sometimes at significantly higher prices.
Speaking on the issue, Ichung’wah argued that many institutions have effectively monopolised uniform sales, locking out local traders and tailors who could provide the same uniforms at more affordable prices. He said parents should be free to purchase school uniforms from any supplier as long as they meet the required standards set by the school.
Education stakeholders say the issue has been a long-standing concern, with some parents complaining about strict requirements that force them to buy uniforms only from specific shops approved by schools. In some cases, parents say they are required to replace uniforms even when existing ones are still usable.
Supporters of school-controlled uniform sales argue that the system helps maintain uniform quality and ensures consistency in design and colour across the student population. However, critics say the arrangement has increasingly been used by some institutions as a revenue stream.
If new policies are introduced, they could open the market to wider competition, potentially lowering the cost of uniforms for families already struggling with rising education expenses.
The debate now raises a broader question about the cost of education and how policies can balance quality standards with affordability for parents.