Against the backdrop of preparations for the new academic year, school uniforms have once again become a topic of discussion. On social media, many parents are suggesting that school uniforms should be provided to all students free of charge at the state’s expense. In their view, this step could reduce the financial burden on families and ensure equality among students.
So, to what extent is it realistic and appropriate for school uniforms to be provided by the state?
“Elchi” reports that education expert Ilgar Orucov, speaking to Globalinfo.az, stated that providing school uniforms to students at the state’s expense in the future is economically and socially feasible:
“Considering that approximately 1.6 million students are enrolled in general education institutions, this reform could be implemented in the first stage for socially vulnerable groups (low-income families, families of martyrs and veterans) or for rapidly growing primary school students. The experience of distributing free textbooks every year shows that the state has the logistical base to manage such large-scale social projects. Entrusting the production of millions of uniforms to local textile factories based on a unified state order would increase production volume, significantly reduce the cost of the garments, and simultaneously boost the creation of new jobs in the country.”
According to the expert, this step, in addition to easing the burden on family budgets, would ensure complete social equality among students and strengthen the principle of accessibility to education:
“Ultimately, thanks to a long-term state program to be jointly prepared by the Ministry of Science and Education and the Ministry of Finance, the free distribution of school uniforms could become a reality.”