Romania close to enforcing mandatory school uniforms to reduce social discrepancies

Romanian school children could have to wear mandatory uniforms at school, if a recent idea from several members of the Parliament, backed by parents' unions, is enforced. The Romanian Government recently announced its support for such a decision, after the first spark came from parents' unions in various schools. Lower revenue families will receive funds to buy the mandatory uniforms, that would be worn by elementary school and high school students, in both public and private schools. The new initiative will not be the same as Romania's school uniform policy during the communist period – the same uniform throughout the system. School officials will talk to parents and together decide what uniform to create for that school, so that each school has its own identity and all students get the same treatment, according to Dan Suciu, the Government's spokesman. Schools can even choose to use one mandatory clothing item, bearing in mind that it needs to make student and the school identifiable. The measure aims to lower some of the competition between students and their parents, based on wealth and displayed wardrobe at school. Most private and international schools in Bucharest already have mandatory uniforms. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: British School)