Tanzanians value education. A good
education can break the cycle of poverty. All Tanzanian children aged 7 – 15
years must attend school, and the wearing of a school uniform is
compulsory. This in itself is not a bad
thing. Wearing a school uniform is an
important part of being a student. It gives the student a sense of belonging to
a particular school community, builds school spirit, creates a sense of pride
in the school, and demonstrates a respect for the school, as well as a personal
engagement with the school’s values and purpose. In addition, a school uniform promotes the identity
of the school within the community. Student dress and appearance are an
important aspect of how a community perceives a school, reinforcing the
perception of the school and its teachers as an ordered, structured environment
that is preparing the nation’s youth for a lifetime of responsible citizenship.
Yes, the futures of all nations, rich and poor alike, depends upon the students
of today.
Part of education is learning how to
present one’s self to the world and that is what the school uniform is all
about. Wearing a school uniform teaches children how to dress smartly and take
a pride in their appearance, thus building confidence and hopefully academic
success. Essentially, it prepares young people for when they leave school and
enter the workforce, be that the corporate world, companies where uniforms are
a must, or the military, police, or emergency services. It is a fact that well-dressed business men / women command more
respect. Likewise, well-dressed students perform better in school due to a more
studious environment, which is focussed on education.
Children learn the
valuable lesson of looking after what they have through the responsibility of
taking care of their uniform: keeping it clean and neat. They are not cheap to
replace and are required to last as long as possible. Ideally parts of the
uniform should be able to be passed on to younger siblings.
“Uniform” means to be
the same – without difference, and that is where the uniforms of many Tanzanian
students come undone. The cost of a school uniform can cause financial strain
on already struggling families, especially if the lack of funds leads them to
purchase what are perceived to be cheaper alternatives from the market vendors
/ fundis.
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| Some local students. Keen as mustard, but the uniforms could be better. |
Many of these garments are ill-made with skipped stitches, unfinished
seams that are already coming apart, broken zippers, poorly attached buttons, collars
and pockets etc. (and that is at the point of purchase). Often the fabric is
inferior and cannot sustain the rigorous daily washing that most uniforms
receive. Rarely are the colours uniform, and all in all, the child is wearing
badly made, ill-fitting, mismatched garments that cannot stand the test of
time. This does nothing for the self-esteem of the child. Nor can the uniform
be handed down to a younger brother / sister as the quality of the garment
simply is not there.
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| Looking smart guys! This is how a uniform should look. |
While it is tempting
to head straight to the market for cheap uniforms, durability should be a major
consideration. Purchasing from the Baraza is a false economy. School uniforms
can receive a lot of rough treatment and the selection of a reliable manufacturer
is important. Endeavour Group Limited’s quality uniforms (Nguo Bora) are more
durable and hold their smart appearance longer. Consequently, they can be
handed down to younger members of the family, saving money in the long run.
Ironically, the cost
of an Endeavour Group Limited school uniform is no more than the inferior product available at the
market. Uniforms made in our local Bukoba factory are consistently of the highest
quality, and we can deliver large volumes of uniforms on time, all in correct sizes,
consistent style and colours.
At Endeavour Group
Limited, we are committed to providing much needed employment, training and the
development of our local Bukoba community.
For more information
about Nguo Bora uniforms from Endeavour Group Limited contact us by
email rayskaijage@yahoo.com
or by phone +255 767 210 960
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