Students attending state schools will have a tracksuit as a new uniform, the government has decided.

A public consultation process that took place between February and March 2019 found that the majority of children, parents and teachers would prefer tracksuits which include poloshirts, t-shirts, caps and jackets for winter as school uniforms, an education ministry statement read.

85% of primary school students who took part in focus groups shoce a comfortable tracksuit. Focus groups took place in 20 primary schools.

91% of middle and secondary schools also picked tracksuits through an online survey.

Surveys with parents and educators were conducted online, and 89% of parents were in favour of having a tracksuit as a uniform, and so were 56% of teachers.

"The ministry is choosing to honour this choice."

Every college will have their own details and colour schemes. The designs and specifications of uniforms

The new uniforms will be phased in, in order not to add on extra expenses for families.

For the 2019/2020 scholastic year, the present uniform will be kept, while parents will be able to send their children with thei rtracksuit.

For the 2020/2021 scholastic year, the new tracksuit uniform will be used in Kindergarten 1, Year 1, Year 7 and Year 9.

For the 2021/2022 scholastic year, every student will attend school with the new tracksuit.