Put children’s comfort first in school uniform design

A Malaysian group condemned the uniform worn by girls at government schools, saying it encouraged rape and pre-marital sex. In multicultural Malaysia, home to majority-Muslim Malays as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians, female students at government schools have a choice of wearing a white blouse with a knee-length skirt or pinafore. GLENN GUAN/The Star

THE letter “A brand reclaimed – New uniforms for Scouts” (The Star, July 11) shows that our long-established uniforms can be reviewed and redesigned to meet changing needs. The redesign of the Scouts Association of Malaysia’s official uniform is a welcome development and may also provide an opportunity to consider whether school uniforms are sufficiently comfortable and practical for Malaysia’s hot and humid climate.

Perhaps it is time to review the uniform worn by our schoolgirls. This suggestion arose from an observation I made during an Umrah pilgrimage years back to Saudi Arabia, where I saw an alternative style of school uniform that appeared both modest and well suited to a hot climate. This observation prompted me to reflect on whether our own school uniforms could also be reviewed with children’s comfort and well-being in mind.