A black and white image of a classroom of school children wearing uniform.

Nellie Monneret

French public schools removed mandatory school uniforms in 1968 following a national student crisis. France’s government is launching a large-scale experimental project whereby selected public schools will require pupils to wear uniforms.

Uniform Experiment in France

France’s new Prime Minister and former Minister for Education, Gabriel Attal, launched a project dubbed the “uniform experiment” last December.

Due to start in the spring, this project will reintroduce uniforms in a few selected public schools across the country for a two-year trial period, during which the social and economic effects of the uniform will be evaluated.

Attal and the new Minister for Education, Nicole Belloubet, said uniforms could help “reduce inequalities,” “erase differences” among pupils and “prevent some forms of violence” like bullying and extortion.

The uniforms will be paid for and provided by the State and municipalities. The material used will be designed and adapted according to the local climate, and schools can add a crest if they wish.

The outcome of this experiment may result in the permanent reintroduction of uniforms in schools nationwide. However, the uniform experiment is already fuelling heated debates among parents, teachers and pupils.

Political Support

Elected representatives in the regions and municipalities of France where the uniform experiment is set to occur have defended the project.

Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, a Secretary of State for Marseille, said to LCI: “I am in favour of the ‘uniform experiment’ to reduce inequalities and take some weight off parents’ shoulders in priority neighbourhoods.”

Although the prime minister has previously shared his scepticism about school uniforms, this project is being launched to end the years-long debate.

Attal said: “Like many French citizens, I have mixed feelings about uniforms. I am not convinced that it would solve everything, but I am not convinced either, like some people, that we shouldn’t talk about it and try it.”

The experiment follows a major international study that found a marked decline in maths, reading, writing and science in French schools.

Public Opinion

Public school teachers and pupils have expressed doubts that the introduction of school uniforms will tackle inequality.

Echoing their feelings, Johanna Reidy, researcher for the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, said: “People will still display their status with shoes, accessories, backpacks, phones…”

Some teachers and trade union representatives have also expressed concern over the cost of the uniform experiment. A basic kit for each pupil could amount to around €200, according to franceinfo. Half of the cost would be paid by local authorities and the other half by the state.

Many argue that educational underfunding and a worrying decline in those entering and remaining in the teaching profession ought to be prioritised for funding.

The National Secretary of the school union SNALC (Syndicat national des lycées, collèges et écoles) told Ouest France: “It [uniforms] stimulates media attention and debate, but as opposed to the profession’s struggle to attract new teachers, this is far from a priority.”

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Featured image courtesy of museumsvictoria via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image license found here. 

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