Latest news with #genderchoice
BBC News
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Students campaign for school uniform rule changes in Northern Ireland
Rhea and Astrid, who are both 11-years-old, are two school pupils on a mission. The friends, from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, successfully campaigned for their school to change its uniform rules, so girls can choose between wearing skirts and they are trying to persuade the Northern Irish government to change the law so that every school has to offer the choice of whether to wear skirts or trousers to their and Astrid said it's "weird and unfair" that some schools still enforce told the BBC: "I didn't really like being made to wear a skirt, it just felt wrong. It's 2025".And Astrid said, she thought it was "important to have the choice for our privacy and for our comfort". Some schools in Northern Ireland, and around the rest of the UK, already allow girls to have a choice between wearing trousers and others still make skirts compulsory for female pupils. Astrid and Rhea's school changed its policy after the girls wrote a letter with the help of Dr Mairead Ryan, a mental health campaigner. Her research outlined a link between school uniforms and physical Ryan said: "Gendered uniforms can limit girls' movement and engagement in physical activities.""Uniform items like dresses and skirts can restrict certain movements and inhibit young girls from climbing, jumping, and participating in other forms of active play that are crucial for their development," she added."It's quite hard to run around without your skirt blowing up in the wind," Rhea added."All schools have the power to change it so if you have the power, then I think you probably should." The Minister for Education of Northern Ireland, Paul Givan, told BBC News the decision lies with individual schools and their boards of Rhea and Astrid have now taken their case to the home of the Northern Ireland government, Stormont, where they spoke at an education committee looking into broad changes to school uniform Quinn, Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, said: "The girls have articulated in their words how wearing trousers would make such a big difference. Not only to their education but also to their play time, to their privacy and to other areas of their lives."I believe that it needs to be legislated on because that would remove any doubt."We want to hear your thoughts on this matter - let us know in the comments section below...
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
'Girls shouldn't have to wear skirts to school'
Two school girls from County Fermanagh are campaigning for legislation to force schools to offer girls a choice between skirts and trousers. Rhea and Astrid successfully campaigned for Enniskillen Integrated Primary School to allow girls to wear trousers, and said it's "weird and unfair" that some schools still enforce skirts. They are taking their case to Stormont's education committee on Tuesday afternoon as part of a hearing into broad changes to school uniform law. Education Minister Paul Givan told BBC News NI the decision lies with individual schools and their boards of governors. Some schools in Northern Ireland already allow girls to have a choice between trousers and skirts. Enniskillen Integrated Primary were prompted to change their policy after Rhea and Astrid contacted Dr Mairead Ryan, whose research outlined a relation between school uniforms and physical activity. In a letter to the school, Dr Ryan said: "Gendered uniforms can limit girls' movement and engagement in physical activities." "Uniform items like dresses and skirts can restrict certain movements and inhibit young girls from climbing, jumping, and participating in other forms of active play that are crucial for their development," she added. Rhea said: "I didn't really like being made to wear a skirt, it just felt wrong. It's 2025. "It's quite hard to run around without your skirt blowing up in the wind," she added. "All schools have the power to change it so if you have the power, then I think you probably should." Astrid said: "I think its important to have the choice for our privacy and for our comfort. "It's weird that some schools don't give you the choice to wear trousers. It's a bit old school." Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Education Minister, Paul Givan, said: "Whenever it comes to decisions should I then give the legal right for a child to say I'm going to wear a school tie or not." When challenged, he said "I'm widening it out, because it can't be taken in isolation between a trouser and a skirt." The committee hearing on Tuesday will examine wide ranging changes proposed to the law around school uniforms. It includes proposals to make school uniforms more affordable, and limiting the amount of branded items which parents and retailers have said drives up the cost. Sports kits that 'don't last' push prices 'up and up and up' Should there be a school uniform price limit? Schools could be forced to explain uniform price under new law
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
'Girls shouldn't have to wear skirts to school', say campaigners
Two school girls from County Fermanagh are campaigning for legislation to force schools to offer girls a choice between skirts and trousers. Rhea and Astrid successfully campaigned for Enniskillen Integrated Primary School to allow girls to wear trousers, and said it's "weird and unfair" that some schools still enforce skirts. They are taking their case to Stormont's education committee on Tuesday afternoon as part of a hearing into broad changes to school uniform law. Education Minister Paul Givan told BBC News NI the decision lies with individual schools and their boards of governors. Some schools in Northern Ireland already allow girls to have a choice between trousers and Integrated Primary were prompted to change their policy after Rhea and Astrid contacted Dr Mairead Ryan, whose research outlined a relation between school uniforms and physical activity. In a letter to the school, Dr Ryan said: "Gendered uniforms can limit girls' movement and engagement in physical activities.""Uniform items like dresses and skirts can restrict certain movements and inhibit young girls from climbing, jumping, and participating in other forms of active play that are crucial for their development," she added. 'It felt wrong' Rhea said: "I didn't really like being made to wear a skirt, it just felt wrong. It's 2025. "It's quite hard to run around without your skirt blowing up in the wind," she added. "All schools have the power to change it so if you have the power, then I think you probably should."Astrid said: "I think its important to have the choice for our privacy and for our comfort."It's weird that some schools don't give you the choice to wear trousers. It's a bit old school." Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Education Minister, Paul Givan, said: "Whenever it comes to decisions should I then give the legal right for a child to say I'm going to wear a school tie or not."When challenged, he said "I'm widening it out, because it can't be taken in isolation between a trouser and a skirt."The committee hearing on Tuesday will examine wide ranging changes proposed to the law around school uniforms. It includes proposals to make school uniforms more affordable, and limiting the amount of branded items which parents and retailers have said drives up the cost.
