"It is a relic of USSR": Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences explains why school uniforms should not be brought back

Ihor Likarchuk, former head of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA) and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, said that school uniforms used to be worn only by elite educational institutions. During the Soviet era, however, they tried to make everyone look the same. So, according to him, the fact that some leaders now require students to adhere to a uniform is nothing more than a relic of the Soviet Union.

Likarchuk said this in an interview with OBOZ.UA. He noted that if a high school student grows a beard and is required to shave it, this could be seen as a violation of his or her rights. Therefore, in his opinion, the abolition of school uniforms was one of the wisest decisions in the field of education.

"The fact that even now some teachers require students to adhere to a uniform is either a deed relic of USSR or an agreement on certain conditions with those who make the uniform," the educator assures.

"By the way, if a high school student has grown a beard, demanding that he shave it off can be seen as bullying or a violation of his rights. Parents of such students asked me similar questions," Likarchuk adds.

He explained that earlier one of the factors that influenced the introduction of school uniforms in independent Ukraine was the desire to support the domestic clothing industry. And that is why the first presidential decree on the introduction of uniforms in schools was issued.

According to the teacher, schoolchildren should go to school in comfortable and convenient clothes. And if older students allow themselves certain excesses, such as makeup or jewelry, each educational institution should establish a certain dress code. According to Likarchuk, it should be developed according to the principle "everything is allowed except...", not "you can only wear...".

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