Cathy Mason: A girl should not have to ask permission to wear trousers

Writing for Belfast Live, Sinn Féin’s South Down MLA Cathy Mason hits out at the Education Minister for failing to properly deal with this issue through his own school uniform legislation

On Tuesday the Assembly will debate a simple but important piece of legislation. Legislation that will guarantee every pupil the right to wear trousers as part of their school uniform.

It is remarkable that in 2026 this debate is even necessary.

Across the North, many girls still do not have an automatic right to wear trousers to school. Instead, they can find themselves in the position of having to seek permission, request exemptions or rely on the goodwill of individual schools. That is not equality. It is not dignity. And it is certainly not what most people would expect in a modern education system.

The origins of this Bill lie in the failure of the Education Minister to properly deal with this issue through his own school uniforms legislation. While the Minister has repeatedly claimed the matter was dealt with, the reality is that his legislation stopped far short of guaranteeing a right for girls to wear trousers.

The result is that pupils can still face barriers where a straightforward legal entitlement would have resolved the issue once and for all.

The truth is that Paul Givan could sort this out today. With the stroke of a pen, he could issue clear statutory guidance guaranteeing every pupil the right to wear trousers. He has chosen not to do so.

In the absence of leadership and action from him and the DUP, Sinn Féin MLAs have worked alongside MLAs from other parties to deliver the change that so many have been calling for.

This is about common sense. It’s about dignity and equality. It’s about ensuring that pupils can wear a school uniform that is comfortable and practical.

A girl should not have to ask permission to wear trousers. Nor should her family have to overcome obstacles and navigate unnecessary bureaucracy to secure what should already be a basic right for their child.

We now have an opportunity to put this issue beyond doubt and bring our school uniform policies into line with the 21 st century.

Sinn Féin is proud to support that change and to work with others across the Assembly to make it happen.

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