Open letter to the NSW Education Minister The Hon. Rob Stokes MP

Dear NSW Education Minister The Hon. Rob Stokes MP

As you are aware, parents across NSW are campaigning for non-discriminatory school uniforms for their daughters. Many public schools across the State do not provide appropriate pants and shorts for girls as part of their school uniforms, forcing girls to wear skirts or dresses all or some of the time.

You have said previously that all girls should be offered choice, however you believe that the current NSW Department of Education policy on school uniforms is adequate to achieve this outcome.

Parents and children across the State know that the current policy is inadequate, as appropriate options are not being offered to girls in all schools, and there are a number of reported cases of parents and children being ostracised or ignored when asking for change.

We ask that the NSW Department of Education School Uniform Policy be changed to explicitly state that girls must be offered the choice of girls pants and girls shorts at all public schools.

Girls have the right to choose between suitable clothing options and many schools in NSW are denying girls this right. In addition, research on girls’ activity levels and school uniforms shows that girls do less physical activity at recess and lunchtime when they wear a dress or skirt as opposed to pants. Girls should not have to wear boys’ clothes or seek exemptions in order to be comfortable.

We, the undersigned, implore you to take immediate action to rectify this problem and ensure all public schools are mandated to provide the choice of pants and shorts for girls on their everyday uniform list.

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