Supply of uniforms in state schools ‘not exclusive’ to winning retailer

The tendering process introduced by the education authorities for uniforms in government schools does not give exclusivity to the retailer who wins the contract, according to an education ministry spokesman.

“Nothing stops any other retailer from producing such uniforms and selling them. It is not the schools’ fault this opportunity was not availed of by other suppliers,” a ministry spokesman told The Times.

Less than a month before thousands of children went back to school today, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority issued a report saying parents of children in state, Church and independent schools were being pressured into forking out a lot of money to buy school uniforms which were only available through exclusive arrangements.

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 – making them cheaper. 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.

The consumer authority pointed out that both systems “restrict the purchase of uniforms to an exclusive retailer, excluding the possibility that uniforms may be purchased from any retailer”.

But a ministry spokesman has insisted that the tendering process, which was introduced following a recommendation of the Office of Fair Competition, did not give full exclusivity to the firm that was awarded the tender.

“The tendering process was fair and transparent and the tender document was submitted to the Office for Fair Competition before it was published. The Office never suggested or indicated that this process would hinder fair competition,” the spokesman said.

Also, it was the Office of Fair Competition itself that had suggested a tendering process for uniforms, “today in place in state schools”, since this system guaranteed fair competition, the spokesman added.

Back in 2008, the Office of Fair Competition recommended that, following a call for tenders, multiple establishments should be allowed to sell school uniforms and that schools should avoid complex designs.

This recommendation was also included in the report released last month by the consumer authority which also recommended keeping designs simple, allowing the parents to buy the uniforms anywhere instead of from expensive and specialised outlets.

The ministry spokesman explained that the college system in government schools was intended to decentralise educational provision and that the uniform reflected the school’s ethos and identity.

Re-introducing a uniform “that is the same nationally” would go against the schools’ identity, while Church and private schools would still retain their own uniforms, the spokesman said.

“One needs to evaluate whether to impose one national uniform for all or allow schools to have the liberty to design their own uniforms according to the ethos and within established parameters,” the spokesman added.

The educational authorities had issued a list of uniform items and the design of college uniforms was decided after a consultation process with the stakeholders – including teachers, students and parents.

Great attention was given so the design would “ensure comfort and offer a fresh look and smart image” while avoiding complications such as piping and embroidery that increased the cost, the spokesman said.

Once the design of each college was chosen, then a tender was issued. “The tender document provided that different items could be sold by different suppliers,” the spokesman said.

Also, the report of the Office of Fair Competition did not take into account the quality of the material – “a very important variable given great attention” by the education authorities when evaluating the tenders, the spokesman added.

The issue of uniforms has long angered parents who, very often, have to fork out large sums of money at the start of every scholastic year for their children.