School uniforms are now like cosmetics in Zimbabwe
Private colleges now seem to dominate in most urban areas with many students preferring to enroll at these institutions. The growing number of private colleges offering primary and secondary education leaves one wondering whether its a sign of the shortage of public schools or the demand for better education. The wide selection of school uniforms used by most of these colleges will make Italian fashion designers go green with envy as some of them are now like fashion statements. Either the uniform is too short, tight, baggy, flashy or revealing. Anyway … who the hell cares as long as the college has a Ministry of Education accreditation symbol?
As beautiful as the colors of the rainbow may be, I wish that the beauty of the uniforms could be translated into the infrastructure found at these institutions of learning. Most of these colleges don’t have proper learning structures. Some are situated in the middle of the town sharing space with nite clubs, food courts and conveniently located close movie houses. I saw one in town, which is just opposite to a movie house, and after school students in uniforms from that college, could be seen queuing to catch an afternoon flick. Shortage of textbooks is not only associated with Government schools but also with private colleges. Some may argue that due to the economic situation in the country private colleges are affordable. I believe when government introduced uniforms in schools it was a move to ensure that discipline is adhered to amongst students and I guess that’s the reason why the designs were so ugly and the colors dull so that it won’t be like a “Giorgio Armani show” at school. Do requiring students to wear uniforms directly affect the school environment and the student achievement or is it a matter of setting a standard for the uniforms?