A majority of people think student uniforms should remain mandatory while others say casual outfits should also be allowed some days of the week to ease tension, according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted on Dec 7-8 on 1,332 people aged 15 and over of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country to compile their opinions on a campaign by the "Bad student" group to make student uniforms optional.
A clear majority -- 69.67% -- of respondents said uniforms for students should remain mandatory. Of the remainder, 12.09% said casual attire should be allowed some days of the week; 7.06% said the decision should be up to the administration of each school; 5.10% said students should be allowed to choose whether to wear a uniform to school; 3.23% said the matter should be decided by a referendum carried out at each school; 2.40% said the mandatory use of student uninforms should be repealed; and 0.45% had no answer or were not interested.
Asked how many days a week casual attire should be allowed, 50.93% chose one day a week; 37.27% two days a week; 9.94% three days a week; and 1.86% four days a week.
Asked whether they supported protests held by the group of "bad students", a majority -- 72.60% -- said "no", reasoning that students should concentrate on their studies, 21.17% said "yes", reasoning that individual rights should be respected; and 6.23% had no answer or were not interested.
