Education expert Mariam Raminashvili says school uniforms cannot eliminate social inequality and could even make differences between children more visible. Speaking to BMGTV, she said the key issue is how and why uniforms are introduced, stressing the need to consider students’ and parents’ views.
Raminashvili argued that inequality is rooted in family circumstances, opportunities and access to education, which cannot be changed by making children wear identical clothes. She also warned that mandatory uniforms could create additional costs for families, including alterations, replacement uniforms and expenses as children grow.
According to the expert, uniforms may serve purposes such as strengthening a school’s identity, but a single mandatory model should not necessarily be imposed on every school. She also said she is unaware of international research showing that uniforms directly improve the quality of education.
Raminashvili warned that forcing uniforms on students could increase resistance, particularly among children. Instead, she called for greater investment in civic education, teacher training and quality learning resources, saying these measures are more likely to address social inequality than standardizing students’ clothing.
