LookAtVietnam – The Ministry of Education and Training has published a circular calling on students at schools and universities to wear uniforms.

Students of Pham Hong Thai High School in Ha Hoi wear uniform on the opening ceremony for their new school year. Starting in mid-November, students at schools and universities will be required to wear uniforms.

He also said that uniforms created equality among rich and poor students.

He added that this was the first time the Ministry of Education and Training had officially ordered students to wear uniforms.

He said in the past, educational establishments made their own regulations regarding the wearing of uniforms. However, he said some school uniforms were too expensive or unsuitable.

Do Thi Minh, a teacher at Ha Noi’s Quang Trung High School, approved of the ministry’s move, which she said would create equality across the country.

However, Minh added that the ministry’s decision should have come before the new school year started as parents had already spent money on uniforms for their children.

Under the regulations, school uniforms must be in keeping with environmental, socio-economic and gender conditions at local schools, as well as with local traditions.

In the summer, boys must wear shirts and trousers and girls must either wear skirts or the traditional dress ao dai.

However, girls at primary and secondary school will not be permitted to wear an ao dai.

In the winter, boys and girls must wear a coat, a shirt, trousers or skirts. They must also wear shoes or sandals.

Luong Tuan Anh, a 10th grade student at Chu Van An High School, said that the regulation on the length of the skirt was reasonable as it would forbid girls to wear skirts that were too short and blouses that were see through.

Nguyen Thanh Long from central Binh Dinh province said that girls at his local secondary school were told to wear the ao dai. However, he said he thought it’s unreasonable and that skirts and blouses would be more comfortable.

High school heads will be able to stipulate when students should wear uniforms as opposed to smart clothing.

The circular also stated that schools that want to change the uniform must first get the approval of parents.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News