Do university students need to wear uniforms?
By cr0ssf41r13
@cr0ssf41r13 (866)
Philippines
May 13, 2010 7:10pm CST
In a very conservative country like the Philippines, only 5-10 universities and colleges don't require students to wear uniforms. Of course, high schools and all levels below, whether public or private, require their students to wear uniforms.
People say that uniforms enable the students to be identified easily. In the University of Santo Tomas (UST), for example, have different uniform designs for every college. It resolves some security issues. It separates Architecture students from the Engineering students. It separates UST students from non-UST students.
It is also a form of advertisement. When I was in high school, there are people who asked what school I am in because the design of my uniform stands out. I was asked about this on public transportation, malls and my subdivision.
Well, the university I attend to, the University of the Philippines (UP), doesn't require uniforms. It is one of the trademarks of the "freedom" in the university. It saves us from problems like stained uniforms, a skirt that is too short for university standards, old uniforms, standing out in the crowd too much, asking for money to buy at least one, et cetera. UP is known for catering education to bright minds in poverty. So these bright minds save up money without the uniforms. We don't have to wear our IDs too.
The problem is, UP being a free university where anyone can come and go as they please, even if they don't work or study at the university. Freedom does pay a great price.
14 responses
@zedrick_11 (931)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Well i'm going to college this year and the university i'm going to study has uniforms.. but its not used everyday, just every monday wednesday and friday..
you can wear just normal t-shirts and pants on tuesday and fridays..
@cr0ssf41r13 (866)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Oh, there are shifts. That is nice. I bet there are still restrictions on the casual dressing. Like one should not wear miniskirts, shorts, slippers or sandals.
@ladysurvivor (4746)
• Malaysia
14 May 10
In my country almost all universities and colleges do not require their students to wear uniforms, but most of them still put certain restrictions on what should and should not be worn. Miniskirts, short pants, sleeveless for girls, transparent clothing, showing belly button are some of the no-no's.
However, I find that the security guards are not that strict because they tend to let students go free even when they are wearing the forbidden stuffs. There are also a lot of students who wear wind-breakers while putting on a different clothing underneath. They will remove the wind-breakers as soon as they pass the security check, exposing daring clothing most of the time. They can't be caught because they are already outside college compound, though.
Personally I think having uniforms will save more costs because students will only have to wear the same clothing for the whole year and do not have to purchase new clothing. Stains can be eliminated by washing.
@cr0ssf41r13 (866)
• Philippines
14 May 10
That is a nice country. Well, that is a good thought but most of us save more money when it comes to clothing when there are no uniforms. It depends on the people though. Of course, we also need casual clothing on our wardrobe because we don't wear uniforms all day. There are people who buys clothing frequently while there are some, like me, who don't like spending too much money on clothes. The freedom in our university is that we can wear anything, like pajamas, to class. I've seen men wearing boxers. There was once a professor who wore her swimsuit to class. No one cares except your classmates, the professor and the fashion police.
@charmeyn (82)
• Philippines
14 May 10
From the University I came from, we are also required to wear our uniforms except for Saturdays. We wear uniforms so that other people can distinguish that we're form "this" school. It also helps students to save up money. I mean, we don't need to worry or think about what to wear every single day. :)
@med889 (5941)
•
19 May 10
Well as far as I know university students so not wear uniforms because students can be of all ages and the administration will find it really difficult to impose a similar dress code for every one so it is better for not wearing uniforms at all though.
@hunterkim_07 (458)
• Philippines
15 May 10
Hi. I also went to the same university and I think it's a privilege on our part that we don't get to wear uniforms. For me, it's not a question on whether or not university students need to wear uniforms because just like any other school, there are rules and they have to be followed. In our campus, we also don't wear our IDs. We just use them in the library and in other transactions. But the drawback is that the security is very loose because the guards don't check if people entering the campus are UP people - students, faculty, staff, etc. One time, when I was in 4th year, the administration ordered the students to wear their IDs every time they enter the campus and at all times. The rumored reason was all about security, along with others (you know, students are very skeptical on all issues). Then, the student council held a campaign against wearing of IDs because it was a "violation" of the students' rights, etc. But in my part, I had a great time wearing my ID because finally I felt like I was a 'student' again. Haha! The order was lifted the next day.
@chuacx (95)
• Philippines
23 May 10
actually, i prefer universities that require students to wear uniform. because in the university i'm studying doesn't have uniforms and it's really hard to think of what you're going to wear esp. early in the morning. and it's driving me crazy. i have to wake up 2 hours before my class starts just to think of what i'm going to wear.
@naka75 (795)
• Singapore
14 May 10
In Singapore, none of the universities require their students to wear uniforms. First of all I think the students would not agree to as they have already worn uniforms for the some 15 years of their education lives, and secondly it is not practical and a waste of resources for the university. The universities would have to design the T-shirts and print available stocks of various sizes for the students to choose. Thus I believe it will add burden to the university and students. Besides the students would want to be treated as adults and has the freedom to wear whatever they like. Having said that, the clubs do have their own unique uniforms such as polo-tees which brings a sense of belonging and pride to the members. They can be worn as casual wear as they are not formal uniforms to be compulsory worn. Yet they raise a sense of awareness in the public about the university. Thus in this sense I think there is no need for universities to come up with uniforms. They should be concentrating on improving the education system and improving the quality of scientific research, to foster wise people for the society.
@gracie04 (4549)
• Philippines
14 May 10
I went to schools that require college students to wear uniform (St.Scholastica's College and San Beda College Alabang). Wearing school uniform is an advantage for me because I don't need to worry about the clothes/outfits i need to wear everyday. All i need to do is to iron the clothes i need to wear for the next day. :)
@midnightbliss (541)
• Philippines
14 May 10
i hate wearing skirts so before entering college one of me criteria in choosing a university is their uniform.here in my hometown, there's only one university that doesn't require require uniform but my family are a bit hesitant in enrolling me there. Gladly I learned that one of the best universities here doesn't have uniform for their college of engineering, without thinking twice I enrolled, but just a year after I graduated, they imposed that everyone in all colleges will have the same uniform in their freshman and sophomore years and it was my most dreaded A line skirt. lols
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Well on some Universities it is required whether you like it or not you should follow campus rules or else you will be kicked or you can transfer in to other school that doesn't wear uniforms, it's up to you. Sometimes we need to follow rules in order to learn something and make us better person.
@ersanmiguel (476)
• Philippines
14 May 10
i am an alumni of UST. i think its okay to have a uniform, i didn't had a problem thinking what to wear everyday. we can still be fashionable even if we are all wearing the same dress
. it's a catholic university so they have the right to be conservative regarding wearing a uniform. 
@7thheaven (95)
• Indonesia
14 May 10
I think all institution my country always have their own uniform or something like that. For example, in my university we can use many kind of dress but of course in civility. But if we attend in some event we usually use blazer (blazer from university). If there is a competition and we win it,so everybody know that our university is the winner of that competition.
@ellepor (28)
• Philippines
14 May 10
i'm from the phil. too.. i'm also a college student who wears uniform because i'm studying on a dominican school.. and i't ok for me, because i don't want my money to be spent on always buying new clothes.. i think my clothes will get OLD fast if i wear it almost everyday for 10 months!
@darknerd (24)
• Philippines
14 May 10
The school I attend doesn't require ALL of us to wear uniforms. Only some departments and colleges do like the colleges of nursing,human sciences,commerce and accountancy,nursing, and natural sciences but they were them in shifts. I wish all of us were to wear uniforms. Helps lessen the hassle of picking what to wear and how much laundry builds up.
