14/12/04
All public high school students will be required to wear school uniforms following an overwhelming 'yes' from Western Australians to the State Government's compulsory uniform proposal announced last month.
Today's announcement by Premier Geoff Gallop followed a two-week public comment period, which saw 70 per cent of respondents agree with the State Government's proposal to make school uniforms compulsory in public high schools from 2006, with next year to be a transition year.
"Major stakeholders including the WA Council of State School Organisations, representing school P&Cs and the WA Primary Principals' Association support our concept of compulsory school uniforms," Dr Gallop said.
"This is in addition to strong anecdotal support from teachers, students, parents and the wider community."
The Premier said compulsory school uniforms would bring a number of benefits including improved safety and security at schools.
"Many secondary schools have found that uniforms can help readily identify who is supposed to be on school grounds and who is not," he said.
"Parents will also benefit by not being pressured to spend money on keeping their child up with the latest dress fad and uniforms will help minimise the socio-economic background differences between students."
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter welcomed the community's input and said the results confirmed his belief that the proposal would be widely supported.
"A school uniform reflects the public image of a school and its students, just as a uniform does in the workplace," Mr Carpenter said.
"From 2006, I expect to see all public high school students smartly and neatly dressed in attire that is easily identifiable as a school uniform, not like they are dressed for the weekend."
The Minister said schools could decide details of their own uniform in consultation with the school community, however he would not accept jeans or denim skirts as part of any school's uniform policy.
"A number of public high schools already have a school uniform, but for those who do not, they will have time next year to design one," he said.
"The transition year will also give those schools that do have a uniform the opportunity to redesign it if they wish."
Mr Carpenter said a school's uniform policy did not necessarily mean the formal dress of school ties and blazers.
"A school uniform could consist of smart pants/skirts teamed with a polo shirt with the school's logo," he said.
"Some public schools do have the more formal blazer and tie but rather than this being the everyday uniform, it is a 'formal' uniform for special school occasions and when students may be representing their school at particular functions."
Premier's office: 9222 9475
Minister for Education and Training office: 9213 6800
