Schools set uniform standards, parents free to choose where to buy

Saudi Arabia's competition authority has ruled that schools cannot compel parents to purchase their children's uniforms from particular vendors. The General Authority for Competition has prohibited schools from mandating the use of specific outlets for uniform sales. The authority also ruled against restricting uniform sales exclusively within the school premises, emphasizing the importance of allowing consumers the freedom to choose.

Educational consultant Hanan Al-Khayyat clarified to Al-Ikhbariya radio that standardizing school uniforms does not equate to standardizing the suppliers. Schools establish the required specifications, but parents retain the autonomy to select where to purchase the uniforms. She explained, "Standardizing the uniform does not mean standardizing the supplier. The school sets the specifications, and parents choose where to buy."

The authority's decision aims to deter monopolistic practices, ensuring parents and students have a wider range of options. This move is expected to foster increased competition and enhance the overall quality of school uniforms, benefiting students and their families as the primary beneficiaries of these regulatory measures.