Figure 1.--Open white shirts and beige shorts are a common uniform at Singapore schools, especially the Chinese schools. |
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Uniforms are compulsory at all Singapore schools. Uniforms are compulsory even in pre-school and all the way up to junior college (18 years). Standards are stricter in primary (7-12) and secondary schools (13-17). While the Government requires a uniform, it does not mandate the precise nature of the uniform. All state schools in Singapore (that is, local primary and secondry schools and not universities) have their own unique uniforms. We are not sure if the government regulations specify waht type of uniforms are required or if they simplu state that shools have to require that the students wear uniforms. mandating uniforms, but all state schools have them." Singapore school uniforms are usually chosen by the head of the school ("principal") and lasts for the major part of the school's history. Schools rarely change the uniform unless a new replacement principal insists on it. As a result, Singapore school uniforms rarely change. A Sinapore student tells us, "School uniforms usually do not change. My school's uniform has not changed for 8 decades!" The schools have a variety of uniforms. The uniform is usually shorts and collared short-sleeved button shirts for boys (made of nylon or polythene) and a blouse and skirt for girls. A Sinapore reader tells us, "Most schools change the boys uniform to long pants for older boys, usually at age 15. The older boys uniform is usually long pants as leg hair with the onset of puberty is considered unsightly." One popular style used at many schools is white open-neck shirt with short sleeves, beige short trousers, and white ankle socks. HBC has very limited information about Singapore schools. The school garments we have noted in recent years have been casual open necked white shirts, brown or blue shorts, white ankle socks, and plain white tennis shoes. We have no information at this time about uniforms previously worn in Singapore schools. We suspect they may have been more formal British styles. We do not yet have a chronology of Singapore school uniforms. Our information is still quite limited. Singapore was a British colony. Thus school uniform styles were influenced by the British. Singapore's tropical climate required some modification. We do have some information on 2000 styles. A Singapore newspaper described school uniform styles in 2000. Singapore schools require school uniforms. The schools we have seen have uniforms with simple, utilitarian styles. Some of the girls are a little uncerain about "looking like Sailor Moon" as they put it.
Singapore school uniforms are usually chosen by the head of the school ("principal") and lasts for the major part of the school's history. Schools rarely change the uniform unless a new replacement principal insists on it. As a result, Singapore school uniforms rarely change. A Sinapore student tells us, "School uniforms usually do not change. My school's uniform has not changed for 8 decades!"
The schools have a variety of uniforms. The uniform is usually shorts and collared short-sleeved button shirts for boys (made of nylon or polythene) and a blouse and skirt for girls. A Sinapore reader tells us, "Most schools change the boys uniform to long pants for older boys, usually at age 15. The older boys uniform is usually long pants as leg hair with the onset of puberty is considered unsightly." One popular style used at many schools is white open-neck shirt with short sleeves, beige short trousers, and white ankle socks. This is very typical of Singapore day-to-day school uniforms, especially for the Chinese schools. Only the most senior boys would be likely to wear long trousers except on formal occasions. There are a number of international schools in Singapore, many of which also have uniforms. These uniforms, such as at the Australian School, can be destinctive. Due to the climate of Singapore (30°C sunny all year round) there are no seasonal uniforms.
HBC has very limited information about Singapore schools. The school garments we have noted in recent years have been casual open necked white shirts, brown or blue shorts, white ankle socks, and plain white tennis shoes. We have no information at this time about uniforms previously worn in Singapore schools. We suspect they may have been more formal British styles.
We do not yet have a chronology of Singapore school uniforms. Our information is still quite limited. Singapore was a British colony. Thus school uniform styles were influenced by the British. Singapore's tropical climate required some modification. We do have some information on 2000 styles. A Singapore newspaper described school uniform styles in 2000. Singapore schools require school uniforms. The schools we have seen have uniforms with simple, utilitarian styles. Some of the girls are a little uncerain about "looking like Sailor Moon" as they put it.
We do not fully understand the uniform conventions, styles, and regulations and Singapore schools. Most schools appear to have the boys wear collared shirts, colored shorts, and white socks for classes. One image suggests that the boys wear "t"-shirts, their shorts, and dark socks for phusical education and the girls wear long pants. However we can not be sure about such conventions without additional information.
One interesting question is what the students think of their school uniforms. The trend in the West is away from school uniforms, but mny asian countries do have requited uniforms. Singapore students discussed the subject of school uniforms over the internet in 1998. Some are not native English speakers, so some of the comments are not gramatically correct, but we have maintained the actual text submitted. The question was posed, should Singapore abolish school uniorms:
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