OFC launches inquiry into school uniforms market
The Office for Fair Competition has launched an inquiry into the market of school uniforms, books and stationery, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said today.
He said that the inquiry follows complaints by parents that some schools were requiring them to buy uniforms, in particular, from particular outlets even though they could be bought more cheaply elsewhere.
The OFC will send questionnaires to the parents of pupils in 105 government schools, 36 church schools and 18 independent schools and anyone wishing to provide information can also write to louise.sammut@gov.mt or clare.zammit@gov.mt The questionnaire can also be downloaded from www.finance.gov.mt
Mr Fenech said the inquiry will ascertain whether exclusive contracts between schools and retailers exist and whether they have a detrimental effect on prices as well as the quality and value of the products. Should that be the case, an investigation will be launched.
The inquiry will be followed by new guidelines on the subject to the schools.
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adrian sammut
May 14th 2008, 22:42
Each year we parents are faced with the same situation. We have to buy uniforms from the same outlet each year. The suppliers having this MONOPOLY really have some cheek. Despite being in a business with a guaranteed annual turnover they do not have the decency to provide the goods on time and in ALL the required sizes. THIS PRACTICE MUST END NOW! Uniforms should be available either from the schools themselves (thus taking the profits themselves at least) or as mentioned in other posts ie. common uniforms but different dadges.
Tanja Cilia
May 13th 2008, 09:31
The practice of buying uniforms from schools rather than from a specific outlet was ostensibly introduced to stop abuses. But of course, this was an excuse, not a reason.
Stefano Cremona
May 13th 2008, 07:51
It seems that our MPs in the past either got the uniforms for free of else the wives never told them what was happening!
BONGU!!!!!
charles bugeja
May 12th 2008, 22:38
long last. We parents have been obliged to buy uniforms from selected stores at heavy prices. Isn't this a monopoly? Finally maybe we will have true competition like anything else. Well done Mr Fenech.
JOHN SCERRI
May 12th 2008, 20:18
Meglio Tardi Che Mai !!
Is it possible that so many years have to pass for our parliamentarians to realize that parents are spending huge amounts of cash before every start of a scholastic year?
I think nearly all parliamentarians past and present sent their children to school whether it was private , church or state.
UNIFORMS
1: State schools should have only one uniform and only the School BADGE which distinguishes which school they attend.
2: Same goes for church schools - One uniform and only the School BADGE which distiguishes which school they attend . Same for private schools.
We are not talking about football teams here , we are talking about money coming out of parent's pockets and not money coming from sponsors .
BOOKS
1:Why are text books of the same grade replaced by new books?
Some books are republished as new version to include nothing but a few new pages otherwise they remain the same - so why not publish an addendum to a textbook. This will be cheaper in cost because parents will only need to by the addendum. Parents know what i am talking about.
2: Why are same grade text books changed nearly every year and cannot be bought or borrowed from students who finished the previous year ?
3: Why is there no system whereby books can be borrowed from the school bookshop and returned at the end of the scholastic year? - A refundable deposit can be acceptable.
During my days at school same text books were used year after year and books were borrowed and returned to the school at the end of the year.
4: Is it possible to harmonize textbooks for same grades in state,church,and private schools so all students will study using the same books?
5: Following 4 above one can harmonize exams for entry to junior lyceum and matsec to use the same examination paper for all schools.
ray pace
May 12th 2008, 14:05
At last, the ball has been rolled, hope that it doesn't stall somewhere. Parents are fed up of such practices, moreso when one either finds out that they have to wait for the required items, or that these items are of an inferior quality or worse at a higher price from any other outlet.
J. Azzopardi
May 12th 2008, 13:55
High time this issue is taken note of. Buying tops which can easily be purchased at the equivalent of Lm1 in euros for the price of 10 Euros is too much. The only difference is the school name which does not justify the difference in price.
Vanessa-clair Farrugia
May 12th 2008, 13:08
At long last! Finally the prices of uniforms will no longer be similar to those of fashion items. Grant us parents the right to buy school uniforms from wherever we find cheapest, online purchases included. Most children tear up their trouser knees before they have the chance to grow out of them anyway, so quality shouldn't be the issue, quantity is.