EduWatch reacts to new public basic schools blue & white uniform

Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) has commended the Ministry of Education (MoE) for introducing a new blue and white uniform for government basic school students in the country as part of a move to rebrand public education.

However, in a social media post sighted by Thisterm.com, the Director of EduWatch, Kofi Asare said the white attracts dirt too easily citing that the average pupil may require at least two sets of uniforms. A situation he said the poor may struggle with.

“Let’s consider a colour that does not dirty easily. Let’s talk to parents; they are the ones who will buy the uniforms. Let’s provide free uniforms for pupils in the 75 deprived districts and the urban poor; similar to what we have done for both rich and poor in Senior High Schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education (MoE), Kwasi Kwarteng has said the Ministry of Education chose the blue and white colours for the new school uniforms because they are brighter.

“Blue and white are brighter colours. Do you have any other colour you want to suggest?” the Education Ministry Public Relations Officer (PRO) wrote in an engagement on X on Friday, April 26, 2024.

In a similar post, he clarified that the plans to change uniforms of public basic schools do not affect all schools explaining that the rebranding only applies to newly built public basic schools, to revive basic education and make it more attractive in the country.

“The Ministry of Education is not changing uniforms for all public schools or repainting existing ones. The initiative focuses on newly built schools, aiming to uplift their appearance and enhance public confidence in public schools,” he said.

The spokesman’s comment comes after the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum speaking at a forum dubbed ‘The Free SHS Story’ hinted at plans to change the brown and yellow uniforms worn by pupils of basic schools.

“We are changing the uniforms of public basic schools in the country. The yellow and brown that you see now, you will no longer see. Reformation is coming to a community near you, and you will see it,” he announced at the event.