The Ronchèse School in Nice, located in the heart of the city, is among the first educational institutions in the Alpes-Maritimes to trial school uniforms for the 2024-2025 academic year.
A new year means a new collective identity! The young students of Ronchèse now sport a unique outfit consisting of a navy blue t-shirt and polo, inspired by the emblematic colors of Nice. Some are already won over, like little Najoua: “Frankly, I really like it! The color is very beautiful and, moreover, there is the French flag on it. It’s practical because you just need to choose a pair of pants or a pretty skirt to go with it. It could really make a nice uniform.”
All United Against Discrimination
For now, this is solely an experiment initiated by the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, in agreement with the academic inspection of Alpes-Maritimes and school principals. It follows the announcement by the former Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal, last December regarding the wearing of uniforms in schools.
The measure is well-received by Agnès, a mother present for the uniform distribution for her children: “I think it’s a very good idea! A uniform unifies and unites the children. It helps reduce social discrimination,” she says.
Instilling the Notion of Solidarity in Children
The initiative aims to promote equal opportunities, create a sense of belonging to the same group among the little ones, and combat any form of discrimination: “Today, when debates on secularism, discrimination, and everything that divides are omnipresent, it is essential to instill solidarity in children. We must make them understand that they form a single team, develop a collective spirit,” explains the mayor.
Apart from the Ronchèse school, four other schools, five middle schools, and one high school in the Alpes-Maritimes are also participating in this national test. In total, over 3,700 students are testing the unique outfit, making this department the one with the highest participation rate. This winter, the young testers will receive other uniforms specially designed for the cold season.
