Teachers union advocates for continued flexibility in school attire

KUCHING: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) hopes the Education Ministry will continue to give flexibility to students to come to school without wearing uniforms.

According to its president Zulkiflee Sebli, the decision to allow students to wear sports attire due to hot weather to avoid any complications to health since May last year has received positive response.

He said many parents hoped that such special permission will continue to be considered in setting school uniform guidelines for the next school session.

“Many parents are very grateful for such flexibility since its implementation last year as it eases the burden of parents in preparing their children for school.

“They can save the cost (money) for purchasing new uniforms as well as the trouble of keeping (washing) the white shirts clean all the time,” he said on Friday (Jan 12).

Therefore, he said, the union would like to call on the ministry to continue to allow students to wear sports attire to schools, especially during hot days.

Zulkiflee said that the ministry can consider making some improvements such as ensuring that the sports attires must have the logo of the school or educational institution concerned – to facilitate the identification process based on the logo on their attires, when they are not wearing school uniforms.

“If this guideline (flexibility) continues, we should make it mandatory or ensure that only T-shirts with the school’s logo are allowed.

“We hope the ministry can announce the good news soon before the starting of the 2024/2025 school session in March.”

Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry is seeking feedback from various parties in setting school uniform guidelines for the next school session.

She said the ministry took an open approach with regard to the issue, and so far, still gave flexibility to students to come to school without wearing uniforms.