PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry’s plan to standardise school uniforms nationwide could help reduce unnecessary costs and simplify requirements for students and families, stakeholders say.
Malaysian Association for Education secretary Hamidi Mookkaiyah Abdullah said that while standard uniforms already exist for all primary and secondary students, additional sets for prefects, librarians and quarter-masters often add extra costs.
“These are the norm for most schools, but the added expense of blazers and vests can be a burden.
“Some children even miss the start of the school term because parents cannot afford the new uniforms. This has gone a little too far and needs to be streamlined with clear guidelines,” he said.
Yesterday, the Education Ministry clarified that the standardisation of school uniforms is still under review.
It said a final decision will only be made after a thorough examination of all aspects related to its implementation for the 2027 school year.
“Therefore, there will be no changes to students’ school uniforms for this year’s school session.
“The ministry assures that any decision regarding this matter will be communicated in advance to parents and all relevant stakeholders,” it said.
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said some schools require students to purchase multiple shirts for different activities and events, including batik attire and co-curricular uniforms such as Scouts or St John.
These can cost hundreds of ringgit but are worn only occasionally.
“A common school uniform and a plain or sports T-shirt should be sufficient.
“Cutting down on these extras would genuinely help reduce parents’ expenses,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of SK Taman Megah parent-teacher association, Yuwaraj Kumar Balakrishnan, said standardisation could help ease costs, especially when multiple uniform sets from specific suppliers are required.
“If the ministry could standardise prices and make uniforms affordable for all students, it would modestly reduce expenses,” he said.
He added, however, that larger cost drivers in education also need attention.
“There are many expenses, like textbooks, tech devices, extracurricular activities and transportation, that weigh heavily on family budgets.
“A hybrid approach might be better, preserving some school identity while enforcing affordability measures.
“The goal should be to ease the financial burden on parents without erasing the cultural and community aspects that school uniforms represent,” he added.
Parent Action Group for Education honorary secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra said while standardising uniforms could reduce costs, the issue reflects deeper systemic problems.
She noted that existing guidelines under the Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas 1983, 1985 and 2024 already regulate uniforms, but schools often impose extra attire, contradicting these rules.
“Uniform standardisation alone won’t solve the underlying challenges in our education system, as parents often have no recourse when schools enforce costly extras.
“What is truly needed is for the Education Ministry to ensure existing policies are followed, while prioritising investments in teacher welfare, digital literacy and learning outcomes,” she added.
