Northern Ireland to Mandate Trousers Option for Girls in School Uniforms

Schools across Northern Ireland will be required to offer girls the option to wear trousers as part of their standard uniforms and for physical education classes beginning next year, under newly revised government guidelines.

Paul Givan, the region’s education minister, confirmed the policy shift on Friday, stating that the decision has been finalized and will be formally communicated to educational institutions shortly.

“Today, I am taking that decision, that will be formally communicated, schools will be hearing from me,” Givan told the BBC regarding the update.

The change addresses long-standing criticism that the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had delayed revising the guidelines, which now explicitly apply to both general uniform policies and games or PE attire. Under the new rules, schools will no longer have the authority to prohibit female pupils from wearing trousers.