France to Bring Back Uniforms in State Schools
17th December 2023
France will consider reintroducing uniforms in state schools following a worrying rise in harassment and violence, and the growing number of controversies surrounding the wearing of the Islamic abaya. The measure has received strong support from the French public, as well as from some teachers. A number of schools are to carry out experiments before the scheme is extended.
There are many well-known arguments in favour of the return of uniforms: an end to competition between children over clothing, and the associated bullying; the disappearance of social differences; making life easier for parents; and an end to demands from different religious communities.
The subject of wearing uniforms regularly crops up in French politics, but until now, no education minister has taken the plunge and put it into practice. The return of the uniform was, for example, part of Éric Zemmour’s programme, but he believes that it should be “imposed” rather than “experimented with.” Les Républicains party chairman Éric Ciotti was also in favour. In January, the Rassemblement National put forward a bill to reintroduce uniforms, arguing that they would solve two problems: “Brand competition and pressure from Islamists on children attending school.” The bill was rejected because it was proposed by Marine Le Pen’s party. The President’s wife, Brigitte Macron, explained that she was in favour too. Today, it is someone close to Emmanuel Macron who has decided to break the taboo and support the wearing of uniforms.