French town near Paris votes to have school uniforms
Parents in a town near Paris have voted in favour of school uniforms for their pre-teen children - a rare development in French state education. Six primary schools in Provins, teaching children from age six to 11, will adopt the dress code in November. On Sunday the education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, said schools must be free to introduce school uniforms, but the government would not rule on it. Most children in the EU, apart from the UK, do not wear school uniforms. French news website LCI says the Provins children - 759 in total - will be encouraged, but not forced, to wear a standard blue polo shirt bearing the French republican motto: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". The 10-piece uniform, including the shirt, will cost €145 (£127; $170). If a family has more than one child in that age group the uniform will be €72.50. According to a September 2016 survey in France, 65% of respondents were in favour of introducing school uniforms. French news magazine