Smart teachers inspire students to dress well

The sight of students walking along our streets with their shirts hanging out is quite common but also disturbing. Education Times sought to analyse the role of school uniforms on the general appearance and discipline of our students. Uniforms always depict discipline and that is why we are more comfortable looking at a policeman in uniform holding a gun than if it was a civilian holding a gun. Students therefore ought to respect and endeavour to dress smartly in their uniforms as this is their first form of identity. The uniform represents the ideals of the school and one should be proud to wear it because it implies that wherever they go they are ambassadors of their school. Walking out of the school gate should not mean that one has ceased to be a student. Parents need to ensure that children leave home properly dressed in uniform and once they get to school the teachers take over and ensure that students are in proper school uniform. To do this well, teachers too need to appear smartly dressed since they are supposed to be the role models. The good thing is that the Ministry of Education directed teachers in Rwanda to wear a white lab coat while teaching and this helps students to also appreciate putting on a uniform while at school. Other members of staff in schools like the security personnel and the cooks or the cleaners must all wear uniform while on the school campus. This way it becomes easy to identify who belongs and who does not belong to the school. Students should be taught to love their school enough to be proud to wear the school’s uniform and wear it well.