Formulation and Adoption of a Scheme for Prescription of a Common Uniform for All Students

January 23, 1974

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 159

TO : The Secretary Department of Education and Culture

As part of the national effort to eliminate the conditions which breed and foster social inequality among the people, it is necessary that class consciousness or distinction among the school population must be removed. In this connection, it has been observed that the kind of school uniforms or clothes prescribed by the various schools serve to create a feeling of class distinction among school children and students of this country. In order, therefore, to remove class barriers among the school population and, at the same time encourage economy in the use of school wear and help the local clothing and garments industry, you are hereby instructed to formulate, adopt and implement a scheme whereby a common uniform shall be prescribed for all students in both public and private schools.

In the matter of school identification, it shall be sufficient that a regulated patch mark or pin with the emblem of the school to which a student belongs be utilized for the purpose. To avoid or minimize additional expense on the part of the parents, administrators or students in acquiring the new uniform, the scheme shall provide for a phasing out period for present uniforms of at least one and a half years to two years.

In other rural communities, the use of a common uniform should only be implemented in schools where uniforms are already prescribed.

For immediate compliance. cd

DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of January, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Four.