School uniforms will always be beautiful.

(Baonghean)School uniforms create a unique beauty, style, and character for each school. However, nowadays, many people have a distorted understanding of school uniforms, detracting from the innocent and refined beauty of the garment…

School uniforms are a beautiful tradition in every school, not only in Vietnam but in almost all countries. They carry cultural meaning and value that goes beyond mere outward appearance. School uniforms affirm that all students are equal, regardless of their family background, ethnicity, or religion; at school, they are all STUDENTS.

Beauty or ugliness in school is only distinguished by the amount of knowledge and behavior possessed. This meaning helps students avoid feelings of inferiority compared to their peers, fostering integration and self-improvement. School uniforms also represent the beauty of uniformity and the spirit of solidarity, teamwork, discipline, and shared goals. From an educational and sociological perspective, the positive aspects of students wearing uniforms also include: creating a positive and competitive learning environment, reducing financial burdens for families, and preparing students for life with a disciplined and compliant character. School uniforms are also essential for a standard educational environment. The beauty and uniformity of the uniform also help the school build a traditional and exemplary image for students to remember and be proud of.

Students from Chau Hanh commune (Quy Chau district) go to school. Photo: TP - TH

There are currently many differing opinions regarding the history of school uniforms in Vietnam. Some believe that school uniforms were established as early as the Quốc Tử Giám – the first university in the country – in 1076; others link it to the formation of the áo dài (traditional Vietnamese dress), which appeared during the reign of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Khoát (1738-1765). However, the most convincing hypothesis is that school uniforms originated when schools teaching the Quốc ngữ (Vietnamese alphabet) appeared in Vietnam. Gia Long School (the second oldest school in Saigon, built in 1913) chose the purple áo dài as the uniform for its female students. In the imperial capital of Huế, in 1917, Đồng Khánh School was established and chose purple as the uniform for its female students, hence the school was called "The School of Purple Dresses." And from then on, the image of school uniforms entered poetry...

In Nghe An province, school uniforms appeared later, only a few schools began implementing uniform regulations around 1995-1996. Le Loi Primary School (Vinh City) was one of them. This school stipulated that students wear uniforms on Mondays and Fridays. For first graders, the school and the Parents' Association agreed on the design, chose the fabric, and had the uniforms made. Each student received one summer and one winter uniform for all five years of schooling. If parents or students needed additional uniforms, replacements for old, torn, or too small items, they could order them based on the school's standard designs.

Quang Trung Secondary School (Vinh City) – a school that has maintained its uniform tradition for over a decade – Mr. Nguyen Duc Vuong, the school principal, proudly stated: “Uniforms create a unique identity for each school. When students wear their uniforms, they feel proud of their school; they feel responsible for ‘beautifying’ the uniform through good deeds, gestures, and actions. Maintaining uniforms is maintaining the school’s traditions…” In grade 6, each student has a summer uniform and a winter jacket made according to a school-wide agreed-upon design and with their own logo. After that, depending on their needs, students and parents can order uniforms for subsequent years…

Sharing her thoughts on wearing school uniforms, Vu Thi Anh Ngoc, an 8th-grade student at Quang Trung Secondary School, said: “When wearing the school uniform, I am clearly aware that everything I do and do has a positive or negative impact on the school. Previously, many students used to eat snacks in front of the school gate. Thanks to the school uniform, the Red Flag team was able to identify them as students of our school and promptly remind and reprimand them, thus significantly reducing the problem. Similarly, when participating in traffic, wearing the school uniform helps to reduce the phenomenon of students lining up side-by-side, causing disorder…”

At Nguyen Duc Mau High School (Quynh Luu), the regulation requiring students to wear uniforms has been in place for many years. The school mandates that students wear uniforms every day of the week, and this has become part of the school's regulations. The school has a student flag team stationed at the gate; any student not wearing a uniform is not allowed to enter the school.

Explaining this, the school's administration stated: The school is located in a coastal and religious area, where security and order are complex issues. Maintaining uniforms helps the school easily manage students and prevent outsiders from infiltrating and causing trouble. Uniforms create equality and friendliness among students, fostering a more orderly educational environment. Each student pays approximately 300,000 VND for a uniform upon entering 10th grade, and an additional shirt is made for 11th grade. All stages, from selecting designs, styles, and fabrics to ordering and pricing, are handled by the parent association…

School uniforms of students at Nghi Phu 1 Primary School, Vinh City.

In the mountainous district of Quỳ Châu, approximately 80% of schools currently have student uniforms. However, many schools only require students to wear uniforms two days a week due to economic difficulties, meaning each student can only contribute enough to have one uniform made. Although not mandatory, the Department encourages schools to promote the practice of students wearing uniforms to school, given the significance of wearing them. Schools also require students to wear their traditional ethnic costumes on Monday mornings to preserve their unique cultural identity.

Clearly, each school and each locality has different ways of implementing uniforms for students. Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Department of Education and Training, said: “The wearing of uniforms by students is based on Circular 26 of the Ministry of Education and Training, and on that basis, the department has issued a document guiding the education departments to implement it. Currently, there is no document mandating the wearing of uniforms, however, it should be encouraged and promoted because it creates the cultural identity and traditions of each school; it creates pedagogical discipline and a friendly, disciplined educational environment”...

However, due to a lack of understanding of the significance of school uniforms, their implementation has also caused inconvenience and anxiety for many parents. Specifically, some schools change the design and color every year; each year has a different style, and even each class has its own symbol; the purchase and sewing of uniforms using poor quality materials at inappropriate prices... has created a financial burden, causing wasteful spending, diminishing the aesthetic value of the uniform, and most dangerously, creating doubts about the educational environment.

Evidence shows that in 2004, several primary schools in Vinh City, Ky Son District, and Cua Lo Town experienced problems with the quality of school uniforms being substandard and prices not matching market rates. Following public and media outcry, in January 2005, the Nghe An Department of Education and Training issued two official documents requesting the education departments of districts and towns to inspect and rectify the situation...

Entering the 2013-2014 school year, the issue of school uniforms continues to persist. Mr. Tran Van Hai, from Hung Phuc ward, Vinh City, expressed his frustration: “My child is starting first grade this year. The school announced that the family needs to pay 400,000 VND for textbooks and 300,000 VND for uniforms. I checked online and found that the textbooks only cost 190,000 VND, and uniforms of the same type and material cost only 150,000 VND. I wonder if the school is actually profiting from selling textbooks and school uniforms?!”…

Ms. Ho Thi Nhung, a fish vendor at Quan Bau market, lamented: “My child hasn’t grown much this year compared to last year, and the old uniform is still wearable. But I heard the school is preparing to replace it with a new one. Books, notebooks… Where will I get the money to cover everything…?” Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong from Ha Huy Tap ward wondered: “I completely agree with the regulation of wearing uniforms to school. But the school needs to standardize a stable design, with materials suitable for students (it needs to be sweat-absorbent), and the style should also follow the trend of being simple, beautiful, and neat…”

How can we ensure that the school uniform is received with joy and affection by the students, and that they feel proud and honored to wear it? Some students have openly admitted: "The uniform isn't pretty, most of it is baggy, and the fabric wrinkles up after only a few days of wear. We wear it just to avoid the disciplinary committee; we have to wear it because the school mandates it..."

In countries like Japan and South Korea, schools always pay close attention to uniform selection. They hire reputable designers to create high-quality uniforms that are aesthetically pleasing and fashionable for students. Students always cherish and are attached to their uniforms… Clearly, there is a growing problem of students feeling “uncomfortable” with their uniforms. While schools mandate uniforms to foster camaraderie and a friendly learning environment, if the uniforms are not aesthetically pleasing, suitable for the students' gender and age, reflect their national cultural identity and regional characteristics, are inappropriate for the weather conditions, or are not convenient for studying, school activities, and other events, they can be counterproductive.

The shortcomings surrounding school uniforms will not only diminish the beautiful image and meaning of uniforms but also negatively impact the educational environment to some extent… There are still many things to discuss regarding school uniforms. However, I believe that ending these shortcomings is not difficult: First, we need consistency in understanding that “the core issue for students is to go to school to learn and acquire knowledge.”

Secondly, it is necessary to strictly implement Circular 26 of the Ministry of Education and Training regulating the wearing of uniforms in schools. The Department of Education and Training and the education departments need to regularly check this. Schools need to disseminate information to parents and students to fully understand the meaning of uniforms. Schools with better resources can wear uniforms more often/weekly, while those with fewer resources should wear them less frequently. Before deciding on the design, color, and material of uniforms, schools should consult with designers, parents, and students. Uniforms must ensure the principles of widespread use, seriousness, consistency, suitability to the psychology, preferences, and aesthetics of students' age group, safety, and convenience in learning and playing activities.

Nothing is more beautiful than watching students happily skipping to school each morning in their pristine uniforms. As time goes by, the school uniform will forever remain an unforgettable memory of school days…

Thanh Phuc - Thanh Chung