Unexpected surprise at the end of the school year for the families of the nursery school in via Temo in Elmas . The head teacher announced the adoption, for the next school year, of the uniform to replace the traditional apron. An exorbitant expense that mums and dads say no to.

With a circular dated 14 June, the director of the “Monsignor Saba” Comprehensive, Rossana Montisci, informed the parents of the students that «the Institute Council, with resolution number 155 of 17 May 2024, decided to approve, unanimously, the adoption of the school uniform for nursery school students, replacing the apron". The uniform must consist of a yellow t-shirt, with a large blue school logo in the centre, midnight blue trousers and a midnight blue zip and hooded jacket with a white school logo. The circular, which arrived a month after the resolution, closed the school year leaving a bad taste in the mouths of families.

Costs charged

The majority of parents reacted by signing and sending a letter of protest to the school director, the Municipality's public education office and the Cagliari territorial school district. «They forced us to use a uniform that starts from a basic cost of 40 euros», testifies Federica Saba, 38 years old, a single mother of two children: «With the relevant exchange rates, the total expense per child would amount to around 100 euros. They told us it would be cheaper than an apron. False: with aprons you spend a maximum of 30 euros with changes throughout the year. Furthermore, no contributions are provided to families with economic problems."

The parents observe that the school is public and must guarantee accessibility and inclusiveness to all children and suggest, if the decision is not revised, that the institute or the Municipality bear at least part of the cost of the uniforms or implement a support system for less well-off families . They also ask that only one order be placed with a single supplier in order to reduce time and costs.

The common

«The innovation – points out the councilor for public education, Fabiola Nucifora – was introduced by the comprehensive institute which enjoys autonomy and decision-making power in the organization and management of its activity. That said, we will discuss with the school for possible support, with the certainty that the school bodies will take into account all the needs of individual families".

In 2018, the Regional Administrative Court of Lecce considered the obligation to wear uniform at school illegitimate and penalizing those who could not afford it.

Sara Saiu

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