Should we wear ao dai as uniform?

In the past, the ao dai was used as a uniform for female students in some schools. But in recent years, it has been used almost exclusively on holidays or in extracurricular activities of the schools.

Female students in flowing white ao dai - Photo: NAM TRAN

School uniforms are limited to simple outfits such as shirts, pullovers, pants or skirts in the same color.

Recently, at a discussion on honoring and preserving cultural heritage on a digital platform organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnamese Ao Dai Heritage Club, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Heritage Association expressed his opinion on the project of bringing Ao Dai back to schools so that young generations of Vietnamese people can get closer to this traditional costume.

And in ao dai, students can be more conscious in their behavior, contributing to reducing student mischief and violence.

First of all, it must be affirmed that all activities and works to honor the Vietnamese Ao Dai should be supported because it is not only a traditional costume but also has high symbolic value, imbued with national identity.

In some aspects, the ao dai and the habit of wearing it on important occasions and holidays have a positive impact on young people's awareness of respecting traditional values.

However, the honoring and promotion of the ao dai needs to consider its suitability, feasibility and possible negative impacts. Specifically, the proposal to bring the ao dai back to schools as a school uniform is a difficult issue to implement.

The nature of educational activities in schools only requires neat, light, comfortable clothing that is easy for students to move around, study, and do activities.

Because of this reality, many schools that previously required female students to wear ao dai every day have had to make adjustments.

Currently, some schools only require female students to wear ao dai on the first day of the week when there is a flag-raising ceremony and during some formal school events.

The mandatory ao dai uniform regulation can also cause difficulties for students who do not have much living conditions because the cost of the ao dai is greater than the regular school uniform.

Students in rural and mountainous areas will have difficulty wearing the ao dai to school. Compared to other types of uniforms, the ao dai is also more difficult to reuse with others.

There is one more important thing: honoring and promoting a traditional value when implemented through a compulsory regulation will be less effective than proactive communication.

In reality, we still see students wearing Ao Dai carrying 3-4 people on motorbikes without helmets. For convenience, some female students tie the two flaps of Ao Dai or tuck them into their pants. There are still students wearing Ao Dai to skip school or have immoral behavior.

So "ao dai" does not necessarily determine attitudes and behavior. To change the behavior of young people, we must change their awareness and let them absorb the values ​​they should preserve, love, and be proud of.

Instead of bringing the ao dai back to schools as a compulsory uniform, we should increase activities so that young people understand the meaning of traditional costumes, know how to use them at the right time, in the right way, and appropriate for each subject, situation, and context.

And dress codes should only be required at major events, competitions, and student performances.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-nen-dong-phuc-ao-dai-20241207080041437.htm