Figure 1.--The photo shows an obviously happy 2nd grade class at Laerskool Buffeljagsrivier, Western Cape. The school is linked to a Christian congregation, but also is funded by the State. The children would be about 7 years old. The school has two uniforms. For the formal one the pupils wear white shirts and grey short pants (boys) or blue skirts (girls). They can wear also optional black shoes. Here only a girl is wearing the formal uniform. The school also has a casual-style everyday uniform that we see here. It consits of a uniform of casual blue shirts, either T-shorts or polos with the school logo and blue boxer shorts (skirtsts for the girls). Thi casual uniform seems favored by the pupils. No footwear is mentioned for casual uniforms. Most children come to school barefoot. The school doesn't seem very strict about the uniform. Some children wear the shirts with the school logo, while other wear basic blue t-shirts. We suspect the blue T-shiets were a lot cheaper. For the formal uniform there are no indication for wintertime. For the casual uniform the dress code states, "tracksuit with sneakers". It is not clear if the fact that the casual summer uniform doesn't mention the footwear means that the pupils have to be barefoot. Anyway they are clearly encouraged to come to school without any shoes.

The major seasonal differences at South African seems to be that the garments are sonewhat heavier during the winter season. It does get a little chilly in South Africa during the winter, but it is nothing like the winters that Americn and European children,face, at least in the northern areas. South Africa is located at 30°S latitude, about qul to northern Florida in the western hemishere and Morocco and northern Egypt in the eastern hemiphere. Of course lattitde is only one factor in weather, but it gives a rough idea of the seadonaloty. The same situation is compsarable to Australia and New Zealand. And the formality at the schools has changed over time. We noted some schools with grey cotton shirts and shorts like the summer uniforms worn in New Zealand (figure 1). Currently we see a lot of schools with simple colored T-shits and shorts for the boys and skirts for the girls. This seems a common approch at many state primaries. Often there was a more formal uniform for special occassions which my include a white dress shirt. Private prep schools often have more formal uniforms. We know less about the garments worn at the secondary level or public (state) schools. Unlike New Zealand we note boys wearing the uniform with kneesocks and shoes like the school here. We notice a few schools wear the boys wear Roman sandals in the summer, but it does not seem as common as in New Zealand. Winter uniforms might be heavier shirts and jumpers (sweaters) worn with shorts with a wool blend or long trousers.

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Created: September 7, 2003
Last updated: 5:20 AM 4/25/2009