School Uniforms

A sampling of Dhaka's school uniforms. Photo: Ihtisham Kabir

My first encounter with school uniforms was when I was six. A white shirt and blue shorts were mandatory at my first school, Blue Bird School in Sylhet. I wore them diligently if reluctantly for six years. When I graduated and moved to St Joseph's High School in Dhaka, the absence of school uniform was a surprise bonus.

I encountered uniforms again when my children started school. Unlike public schools in California, the private Challenger School required them. Buying uniforms every year became a ritual reminding us of the children's race towards adulthood. Only one store in the area sold the grey, maroon and white outfits, sewn from tough, child-proof fabric.

One of the delights of visiting a new country is watching flocks of school children in unexpected new uniforms.

In the West, school uniforms were introduced during the time of Henry VIII in England where the first widely-used uniforms – at Christ's Hospital school - were long coats dyed blue. However, during the height of Arab civilization, Madrasah students also wore uniforms conforming to Islamic dress code.

There is considerable debate over the benefit of uniforms. One school of research suggests children show more pride and behave better when wearing uniforms. But other findings do not agree. My sense is that it is probably better for younger children to wear uniform, but I am not convinced of the benefits for older children.

History and theories aside, uniformed children going to school in early morning is a visual treat in otherwise drab Dhaka. The city's countless private schools have diverse uniform requirements resulting in a rainbow of colours. Before school starts, uniformed children throng the alleys and smaller roads. Often they walk to school in groups, chatting away about everything under the sun. Sometimes they surround a feriwallah selling fruits or snacks. Neither rain nor cold nor heat can stop them. For those periods before and after school the air is filled with their sweet chatter which adds to our delight.

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