DepEd Prescribes Proper School Attire

While the Department of Education does not require the wearing of uniform in all
public elementary and high school to ease the financial burden of parents, it
came up with guidelines on what constitutes proper school attire.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the school attire should reflect respect for
the school as an institution for learning and should not be a cause for
discrimination particularly for students belonging to a lower socio-economic
status.

“A student’s basic right to school to study and learn is of paramount importance
and should be respected and promoted at all times,” Lapus added.
In keeping with these guidelines, DepEd prescribes for boys a polo shirt/t-shirt
with sleeves of any plain color or with minimum prints. Pants can be long or
short of any color. For girls, it can be a dress, skirt and blouse, blouse and pants
of any color and any print. Boys and girls can wear any footwear.
The directive also reiterates that students with existing uniforms can still wear
them if they so desire.

Students are discouraged from wearing expensive (signature or designer
brands) or flashy clothes, tight-fitting pants/blouses/dresses, mini skirts, short
shorts, blouses with plunging necklines, hip-hop pants for boys and sleepwear.
Lapus stressed that promoting hygiene and proper school decorum is part of the
teaching-learning process in schools. “Thus, a student’s attire and physical
appearance should manifest the learning from this process, “Lapus pointed out.
DepEd Order No. 45 s. 2008 states that public elementary and secondary
schools are not required to wear school uniforms. The order is aimed at
increasing school participation of school-aged children by removing any
obstacles to enrolment particularly those financial in nature.

The identification card of public school children shall also be given at no cost to
the child or parent. School authorities will source funding for this from their
maintenance and other operating expenses.