AS the Department of Education sets to start the classes for basic education, elementary and secondary, on August 22, 2022 for the S.Y 2022-2023 through DO 34 s. 2022, there spurs anew the talk of the town-the optional wearing of school uniform to public school students.
In a press release by DepEd, the policy is not relatively new as this has been already reinforced several times in the field through various issuances mandating the wearing of school uniform optional. However, schools with existing uniform may continue to implement the wearing uniform to prevent parents from incurring additional costs considering the pressing economic condition as of this time due to the COVID-19.
The mandate seems simple and comprehensible to an average person, yet it cannot be denied that it stirs the calmness and serenity of the public. While some are in favor of the policy pointing out economic situation of the people, there are those who show negation for some reasons.
The intention of the government is pretty good enough to lessen the financial anguish of the people specially the marginalized income earners. True, the wearing of uniform entails additional cost to people who have meager incomes specially the indigent families. Considering the basic needs of the family that need to be in the priority list, the purchase of the school uniform may curtail them to buy supplies and needs most needed by the members of the household.
Granting that the purchase of school uniform is downright giving financial burdens to the family, the advantages that this may give far outweighs the negative side. The wearing of school uniform provides sense of pride, identity and decency to the students as members of the school community. For the school, this may be considered an easy identification and tracing mechanism in case a mishap may happen to students in and out the school. Moreover, in case an intruder may come to school by force or surprise, the personnel may find it easy to detect potential entry of such lawless people.
Giving credence to my experience being a member of the circle of indigents back during my early childhood, I remember my parents would bring me to a stall in the public market to buy for “ukay ukay pants (items sold for a cheap price). In a matter of an hour or so, we went home together bringing the newly bought item and wore it on the next day to school. My sisters, whose uniform could hardly be found in the stall, were bought meters of cloth by my parents and handed them to the seamstress. After few days, the work was done and the uniforms were ready to wear. I still remember the excitement painted on our faces heading to school wearing the school uniform.
The point on my narrative is: That instance of slashing family’s budget for school uniform never got us broke (as we were broke already, according to the famous lines uttered by my folks). If you knew, my uniform lasted even up to my last year in high school as I kept them in good shape aware that my parents could no longer buy one for me in case I got them damaged.
When at home after the tiresome choosing of the best pants from the mound of clothes in the stalls, I found myself simply filled with childish excitement wearing the blue pants paired with the collarless yellow shirt. I looked myself the typical boy of my age who seemed to have my complete state of the young experience. In the adjacent room, I heard my two sisters yelling at each other while seeing themselves in the mirror wearing the uniform they finally had.
I guess it is not the poverty alone that curtails anyone to spare for a piece of cloth. A child normally wears a clothing wherever he/she goes, even not in school. This fact alone means that having a uniform can help parents save money to buy clothes for their kids. Wearing school uniform during class days will keep the clothes of the children reserve for other occasions when uniform is not desired.
Of all the issues concerning the school today, this may sound a little too trivial, but if left unaddressed may be a source of chaos. The DepEd through its authorities may be lenient enough to consider the pros and cons of the policy.
In the school context, the school personnel must be very vigilant, responsive and considerate enough according to the situations of the community in order to make the school a place of learning and a cradle of genuine understanding and healthy relationship among the stakeholders.
All in all, DepEd employees must always think the highest form of advantage among its people, not the idealistic way of thinking that may somehow put its members to burdens and sufferings.
