KUCHING: Several parents have voiced support for the Education Ministry’s proposal to standardise school uniforms nationwide, saying the move could help ease financial burdens on families and simplify the process for students who have to transfer schools due to parental job relocation.
They believe the policy, if implemented carefully, would promote uniformity without undermining school identity, provided affordability and flexibility remain key considerations.
Human resource cum admin executive Sherynica Lidaw expressed support for the Education Ministry’s proposal to standardise school uniforms nationwide, describing it as a move that would greatly benefit parents, particularly those who often faced school transfers due to work relocations.
She said a uniform design applied across all schools would help reduce financial pressure on families, as parents would no longer need to purchase entirely new sets of uniforms when their children moved to a different school.
“If school uniforms are standardised throughout the country, it will make the process much easier for parents who have to transfer their children to another school because of work commitments, and at the same time, it will help save costs,” she told Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
Sherynica also believed that the policy would not erode school identity or student pride as individual institutions would still retain their respective logos as a form of representation.
At the same time, she suggested that schools be given some flexibility to preserve their uniqueness by introducing one official uniform such as a batik outfit for formal events or special programmes that reflected each school’s character and creativity.
“What matters is that the cost of any additional uniform remains reasonable and affordable for the majority of families,” she added.
Ramlah Ayu, 52, a housewife, said she generally welcomed the proposal to standardise school uniforms nationwide as it could help reduce confusion among students and parents, especially when children transferred to new schools.
According to her, having one common design will create a sense of unity among students regardless of location or background.
“If the uniforms are standardised, at least parents like us will find it easier to plan and manage our expenses,” she said.
She also stressed that affordability must remain the top priority if the policy was implemented.
“Uniform prices must be reasonable. It should not end up burdening parents even more. Standardisation is good but it must truly benefit the families, especially those with lower incomes,” Ramlah said.
She hopes that the voices of parents, teachers and students will be taken into consideration before any final decision is made.
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Roseshirla Mud, has also expressed support for the proposal, describing it as a practical move that would make it easier for parents to purchase uniforms from nearby stores regardless of location.
She said the initiative would also help reduce schooling costs and simplify the process for students who transferred to other schools as parents would only need to change the name tag or school logo instead of buying entirely new uniforms.
“This will definitely ease financial expenses because we no longer have to worry about choosing different outfits every day outside school hours and uniform changes during school transfers will be more convenient and economical,” she said.
Roseshirla added that the move would not affect her children’s sense of pride or identity as they have been studying in government schools since young.
She also suggested that the government increase Jualan Rahmah initiatives for school uniforms and supplies, especially at the beginning of the school year, to help ease the burden on low- and middle-income families.
The Ministry of Education is reportedly planning to standardise school uniforms nationwide to eliminate colour variations between schools. A final decision would be announced by August 2026, with phased implementation expected to begin in 2027 starting with Year One and Form One students.
