Figure 1.--Here are girls lining up in the morning at a primary school. The uniform was a gum slip. Some girls wear sweaters over their gym slips as it is still a little chilly in the morning. Most South African schools are coeducational. You can see the boys lined up in the background.

South African boys and girls wear distinctive school uniforms. The notice a range of styles, uniforms based on English school styles as a result of the colonial association. These English styles continuee to be widely worn. Boys commonly wear collared shirts and short pants. The girls' outfits are some what more varied. We see girl wearing three different uniforms: gym frocks, blouses and skirts, and summer frocks. All three were commonly worn. While the girls' uniforms were distinct from the boys, there were many common items, including blazers, ties, sweaters, and knee socks. Headwear was also destinctive, but no longer as common as it once was. Shoes are generally destinctive. The major difference between South African and Britain is that many South African children can not afford a full school kit. Another difference is that many school children went barefoot. This is not entirely an economic matter. Many Afrikaaner children still go to school barefioot, both boys and girls.

Boys

South African boys like the girls wear school uniform styles developed in Britain. Boys commonly wear collared shirts and short pants. Schools vary in formality. Some schools have blazers and the boys wear ties. Knee socks are worn at scome schools. Often there are seasonal changes. Boys school uniforms are largely covered in our main South African school page.

Girls

The South African girls' outfits are some what more varied than thst of the boys. We see girl wearing three different uniforms: gym frocks, blouses and skirts, and summer frocks. All three were commonly worn. While the girls' uniforms were distincr from the boys, there were many common items, including blazers, ties, and knee socks. Headwear was also destinctive, but no longer as common as it once was. Shoes are generally destinctive. The major difference between South African and Britain is that many South African children can not afford a full school kit. Another difference is that many school children went barefoot. This is not entirely an economic matter. Many Afrikaaner children still go to school barefioot, both boys and girls.

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Created: November 4, 2003
Last updated: 2:01 AM 11/7/2011