Schools should go for simple designs for their uniforms which could be bought anywhere instead of restricting parents to buying expensive uniforms from specialised outlets, the consumers’ watchdog has proposed.
Parents are being pressured and left in a “very vulnerable position” by schools’ strict policies for children to wear full uniform, with exclusive arrangements “severely hindering and restricting competition,” according to a report by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.
Church, State and independent schools are designing uniforms specific to the school “which severely restricts the possibility for parents to shop around”. The report speaks of “significant price discrepancies” between items at all educational levels, from pre-primary to secondary school.
The authority began its investigation after it found that the majority of schools had specific uniform items, such as ties, blazers and jerseys, forcing parents to buy them from a particular shop or from the school itself.
The recommendation forms part of a report the authority launched for consultation yesterday until October 26.
The 67-page report, available online, makes a comparison of the mean, maximum and minimum prices of frequently bought compulsory uniform items.
A list of basic, compulsory items was drawn up – long and short trousers, skirt, long and short sleeved shirt, jersey, polo shirt, tie, blazer, tracksuit and sports top, shorts and cap – with the prices of last scholastic year. The authority noted there was “a considerable difference” in the supply of uniforms between schools so two separate questionnaires were drawn up – one for State and the other for Church and independent schools.
In state primary schools, the sports tracksuit is the most expensive item while the tie is the cheapest when bought from specific retailers, for example.
In the case of a specific sports tracksuit, the price ranged from €16.30 to €44.05, the report noted. However, buying the tracksuit from a shop would cost a minimum of €9.95 or a maximum of €17.50.
A blazer was the most expensive item for secondary school students, with prices ranging between €53 and €64 for boys and between €54 and €69 for girls.
The report noted that in state schools, a number of selected school uniform items were not specific and could be bought from any general retailer. However, the system was being changed by the education authorities to one where contracts were awarded to suppliers following a call for tenders.
This change was “intended to ensure price stability and a more distinct identity” for each college of schools, with distinct colours and patterns which could not be substituted by generic school uniform items.
But the authority pointed out that irrespective of whether the system was old or new, both “restrict the purchase of uniforms to an exclusive retailer, excluding the possibility that uniforms may be purchased from any retailer”.
The authority said it was concerned that each specific uniform item would create a separate exclusive market for suppliers, not allowing competitors to enter the market.
In its recommendations, the authority said schools had to understand that the market, described as “very particular”, was “highly influenced” by their uniform policy.
Schools should discuss their uniform policy with parents regularly and in “rare cases” where an exclusive arrangement was considered necessary, parents should also be informed of the process of selecting a supplier.
But these exclusive arrangements should be the exception and not the rule and the school should ensure that the positive effects of the agreement, such as security of supply, should outweigh negative effects like limited choice.
If the supplier has to be changed, then schools ought to ensure that the patterns and designs are owned by the school and not by individual suppliers.
While understanding that a uniform gives the school its identity, the authority pointed out that they should not go for complicated designs or unusual colours and combinations.
It recommended that uniform designs should be kept as simple as possible and the school’s distinct identity could be conferred by badges, sold separately and sewn on. Also, items such as shirts, skirts, trousers, blazers and sports kits should be available from any shop offering to sell uniforms.
The report is available at https://secure2.gov.mt/consumer/consultations?l=1 .