Don't force students to buy new uniforms, Sharjah schools told

Private schools in Sharjah have been warned against forcing parents to buy new school uniforms ahead of the new academic year.

The Sharjah Education Council said that schools are not allowed to force parents to purchase new uniforms except in the case of change in the uniform.

“The parents have the freedom to determine the needs of the children and purchase things accordingly. Some private schools are forcing parents to buy new uniforms and include its price within the school fees even when the students have uniforms from the previous year. This practice is unfair,” a statement released by the council said.

“When the children have surplus uniforms from the previous year, there is no reason for the schools to demand extra money from parents. They have the right to determine the needs of their children,” said the statement.

An Arab mother complained that her sons’ school told her that she should purchase new uniforms worth Dh300 though there was no change in the uniform for the year. She said she had unused uniforms for her son from the previous year, and she was surprised that the school made it mandatory to purchase new uniforms. She stressed on the importance of monitoring private schools to ensure that they are abiding by the rules, especially during the start of the new academic year.