€20 average discount on school uniforms, prices locked

Fixed prices for school uniforms • Video by Ray Attard

School uniforms will cost an average of 10% less and the prices will be locked for the coming five years, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo announced this morning.

The 10% reduction should translate in an average €20 discount on each uniform. By way of example, uniforms of students attending St Margaret's College will now cost €197.20 from €218.95; parents whose children attend St Nicholas College will now pay €199 instead of €226.10.

"The tender has been adjudicated and we will be able to announce the supplier in a few weeks' time, after the appeals period expires," the minister said.

According to procurement laws, entities must allow an appeals period, even when there are no appeals to the tender.

The new supplier must provide better uniforms, after parents complained of lack of quality. The ministry has improved uniforms' specifications and prices will remain unchanged until 2019.

A survey distributed among all primary schools last November also found a surprising 75% who declared they didn't want any changes to the uniforms. The surprise percentage comes after years of parents' complaints on quality and prices of uniforms.

"I was surprised as well by the results, but it also could be that parents had already bought their children's new uniforms, fearing they would have to buy again," Bartolo said.

17% said they wanted their children's uniforms simplified, in other words for their children to wear only a track suit to school.

Only 4% of the parents said they didn't want any uniforms.

"We will respect the parents' decision and the only thing that will change will be an improvement in the quality and better prices."