Govt raises price ceiling on school uniforms

The city government has raised the price limits on how much schools can charge for student uniforms and bus service for the coming school year, local media reported.

Schools will be allowed to charge up to 300 yuan ($48.96) per uniform, according to a report in the Shanghai Evening Post.

Under the previous regulations, senior high schools could charge up to 250 yuan and primary and junior high schools could charge as much as 150 yuan per uniform.

Authorities raised the price ceiling on concerns that low prices might cause some uniform manufacturers to cut corners to preserve their profit margins.

In February, authorities discovered a garment company that sold student uniforms made from material dyed with banned substances, Shanghai Television Station reported. The company provided uniforms to about 30 schools in Pudong New Area.

Authorities also announced that schools will be allowed to charge as much as 200 yuan a month per student for bus service.

Many schools have informed parents that their school buses will be upgraded for next semester to stay in line with international standards.

A total of 383 schools, including international schools, employed 1,953 school buses in the first half of this year.

Most of the schools that use buses are private schools because public school students usually attend class near their homes, according to the city's education authority.