All senior school students should have equal resources, opportunities; not common Uniform

The Ministry of Education says that all learners joining Senior Secondary Schools should have one common uniform. According to ministry, learners dressing in one particular uniform will help to foster equity among the students.

That way, students from marginalized areas will feel equal to those from affluent suburbs, thus boosting the learners’ confidence. However, uniformity of the learners’ dressing does not guarantee equality.

A common uniform will only show equity visually but that doesn’t mean that opportunities and learning materials are equally provided to both.

Reportedly, junior secondary school (JSS) in Matuga Sub-county, Kwale County raised concerns over inadequate infrastructures and insufficient learning materials in schools in the area. Learners in this area are unable to explore their full potential compared to those schools with adequate resources.

For instance, a student passionate about science and innovation will be disadvantage to fully explore their potential because they lack the resources – well equipped laboratory and highly skilled teachers.

Unless the government provides schools in marginalized areas with equal resources to those in the affluent suburbs, having a common uniform will not bring equity to the learners.

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A uniform is a sign of identification, identifying an individual to a particular institution or organization. Individuals in the same uniform often enjoy equal privileges because they are all equal. In the same way, dressing the senior secondary school learners in a common uniform shows that they are all equal.

That no one is greater than the other. Therefore opportunities and privileges should be equally provided to them.

The Ministry of Education claims that dressing the students the same will help build students confidence. That is not entirely true, the learners’ might dress the same but might not be confident enough to showcase the skills and the knowledge impacted to them by teachers. Not because they are not smart enough but because they lack the courage to do what they hardly know.

For example, there is a music competition among students in Senior Secondary School despite both learners being in the same uniform, students from schools that have highly skilled teachers and well equipped music rooms will be more confident in the competition compared to those students that were barely exposed to the musical instruments or even taught their use.

Having same uniform doesn’t build confidence rather, having the skills and knowledge does. Attending those competitions in different uniforms but with the courage of the knowledge imparted and skills taught will give a student confidence to believe in themselves no matter where they come from.

The government should ensure equity in education from equal access in resources, infrastructures, skilled teachers and opportunities not merely uniform. As the saying goes knowledge is power. Power in turn builds confidence.

Providing a platform where learners are equally equipped with knowledge and skills and providing them with equal opportunities will help carve a better future for our kids.

By Mercy Mutheu

Rongo University Student