School uniform ruling helps poor parents

Parents battling to afford school uniforms for their children will be relieved by a Competition Commission ruling that allows them to choose where they buy.

Parents and some suppliers complained to the commission after years of schools forcing parents to buy uniforms from specific shops.

The commission urged parents to report any “incident of non-compliance”.

Department of Basic Education (DBE) spokesman Elijah Mhlanga confirmed yesterday that the ruling had been communicated to the department.

“The department has worked with the commission and they agree adherence to the law is paramount.”

Mhlanga said all provincial education departments were expected to remind school governing bodies about their responsibilities.

The department would ensure the notice from the commission was widely distributed, he said.

Eastern Cape education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said the province would implement the instruction. He said they had not received any complaints from schools about the matter.

Commission spokesman Itumeleng Lesofe said the complaints dated back to 2010. “There have been complaints from various provinces. The notice that the commission has published in newspapers is the essence of the resolution on the matter; there is no ruling against certain firms or any party,” he said.

The commission announced that a ruling had been made against schools signing agreements with private firms barring parents from choosing where to buy their children’s uniforms.

In the notice placed in the Daily Dispatch, the commission said these agreements often resulted in parents having no choice of suppliers when buying school uniforms and being charged high prices.

“The commission act prohibits firms from concluding agreements that may prevent competition and lead to high prices and lack of choice,” it said.

The DBE has sent out a circular to schools and education districts recommending that:

• School uniforms should be generic so that they are obtainable from any supplier;
• Exclusivity should be limited to items the school regards as necessary to obtain from pre-selected suppliers;
• Schools should follow a competitive bidding process when appointing suppliers;
• Schools should appoint more than one supplier in order to giver parents more options; and
• Agreements concluded should be of a limited duration.

East London schools voiced mixed reaction to the developments.

Hudson Park High School principal Roy Hewitt said the commission’s judgement would be difficult to implement as supplying uniforms was expensive. The school has its own shop and two suppliers where parents buy uniforms. “One wonders how shops will be able to supply uniforms,” Hewitt said.

He said even though it was possible to have many shops selling uniforms it could be tricky as it would require “someone willing to invest” in the business.

Ngxingxeni Primary School principal Nomfuneko Nkwenkwezi said the judgement would not impact on the school. He said the Mooiplaas-based school had no issue where pupils bought their uniforms.

“All we want is the colour and pattern to be the same,” she said.

Voorpos Primary principal André Mathee said the commission’s judgement fitted in with what the school had been doing since 1996.

He said their uniforms could be bought at most clothing stores. “The only thing we compel parents to buy at the school is the badge.”

Federation of Governing Bodies of SA chief executive officer Paul Colditz said: “We recommend schools take steps to understand the competition risks likely to arise from the exclusive supply of school uniforms and other school items.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za