Two colors allowed: Education Minister on school uniforms

Tengrinews.kz – Minister of Education Zhuldyz Suleimenova commented on disputes over the requirements set by Kazakhstan’s schools for students’ uniforms and appearance. She was asked about this at a government briefing.
In particular, the minister was asked where lawful school requirements end and excessive measures begin.
“What school uniform requirements actually exist? Where are schools going too far? Can parents be fined over uniforms, and can a child be denied entry to school?” the question read.
Suleimenova said school uniforms are mandatory, while blue and black colors are allowed.
The journalist clarified whether a specific school has the right to require, for example, only blue uniforms and ban a child from coming in black.

“No, that cannot happen. I know there was such a problem. We gave clear explanations and held a separate meeting on this issue with education departments. Both black and blue are allowed,” the minister repeated.

When asked whether schools that impose such requirements would be punished, Suleimenova said punishment is not the ministry’s goal in itself.

“Everyone can be punished, but that is not our goal in itself. We must explain things and develop new approaches to public etiquette,” she said.

What about hairstyles
According to Suleimenova, the Ministry of Education does not set specific requirements for schoolchildren’s hairstyles. Such issues may be regulated by the schools’ own internal rules.
At the same time, she stressed that requirements for appearance should not be excessive.

“Appearance should not interfere with the learning process; a student should look neat (...) At the same time, we do not intend to overregulate hairstyles or appearance,” the minister said.

Earlier, school guidelines setting requirements for students’ appearance were actively discussed on Kazakhstani social media. Some of them specified particular hairstyle options and restrictions on hair length and dyeing, makeup and manicures. The Ministry of Education then explained that each school sets its own appearance requirements in its internal rules.
Another dispute arose at one of Astana’s schools over the color of the uniform. Parents said the administration required a dark-blue uniform and warned of possible liability for failure to comply with the requirements.
Earlier, the ministry also clarified that the style of the school uniform is determined by the school with the participation of the board of trustees, the parents’ committee and school self-government bodies, and is approved at a general school parents’ meeting. Parents, meanwhile, have the right to independently choose the manufacturer and place of purchase of the uniform.