Stop Imposing Exorbitant Costs On School uniforms – Moral Regeneration Movement

The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West is taking a firm stance against supplier monopolies for school uniforms, particularly those imposing exorbitant costs that render them unaffordable for economically disadvantaged families. Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, the Convenor of the MRM Provincial Interim Committee, emphasized the need for action to break these monopolies.

The MRM commends the ongoing investigations by the Competition Commission, targeting schools that maintain exclusive deals with uniform suppliers. However, Kgwele urged the government to exhibit the necessary political will to eliminate monopolies within the school uniform value chain. He stressed that the initial step should involve establishing a standard basic uniform for public schools and fostering opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as cooperatives within impoverished communities.

Pastor Kgwele passionately appealed to public schools not to adopt exclusivity policies similar to those often seen in private schools. He underscored the importance of recognizing socio-economic rights in the constitution and implementing policies and programs grounded in Ubuntu and economic justice.

Compassion, according to Kgwele, should serve as the guiding principle for providing children from economically disadvantaged households with opportunities for human dignity and material well-being. He called on parents to actively support their children’s educational journey by participating in school programs, including studies, right from the beginning of the academic year.

Highlighting the essential partnership between schools and parents, Kgwele emphasized that without this collaboration, the discipline crucial for instilling effective learning and teaching, fostering value-driven schools, and developing responsible, ethical citizens would be compromised.

In a bid to deepen transformation and participatory democracy, the MRM encourages parents to actively participate in the upcoming School Governing Body (SGB) elections later this year. This engagement, the movement believes, will strengthen accountability, foster good governance in schools, and contribute to the overall well-being and development of students in the North West.