Greek MEP and Voice of Reason leader Afroditi Latinopoulou has called for the return of school uniforms in Greece, arguing that classrooms should place less emphasis on fashion and appearance.
In a social media video posted ahead of the opening of schools on Friday, September 11, Latinopoulou wished students a successful and creative academic year before addressing clothing, makeup and behavior in the classroom.
The Greek politician said she would like Greece to introduce school uniforms similar to those worn at many European schools and private educational institutions, adding that modern uniforms can also be attractive.
“Schools Are Not Catwalks”
Latinopoulou devoted part of her message to the appearance of female students, criticizing very long nails, elaborate eyelashes and heavy makeup.
“Schools are not catwalks or bouzoukia,” she said, referring to the late-night venues associated with Greek popular music and nightlife.
She suggested that elaborate styling should be reserved for students’ social lives outside school hours. Latinopoulou also encouraged young people to enjoy their adolescence and school years, saying that this period of their lives would not return.
In the caption accompanying the video, she called on both male and female students to show respect toward their teachers.
Latinopoulou represents Greece and her Voice of Reason party in the European Parliament. She belongs to the Patriots for Europe group and is a member of both the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Regional Development.
Greece Abolished the School Apron in 1982
The proposal recalls the blue school apron, known in Greek as the podia, which was once among the most recognizable symbols of school life in Greece.
The compulsory apron, traditionally worn with a white collar, was abolished on February 6, 1982. It had been imposed primarily on female students and had come to represent the strict rules governing girls’ appearance in Greek schools.
Its abolition followed demands from students and educators and formed part of a broader period of social and educational reform after PASOK came to power in 1981.
Supporters viewed the decision as a move away from enforced conformity and outdated restrictions, particularly those applied specifically to girls and women. The change also reflected a growing emphasis on equality and greater personal freedom within the education system.
The debate over school uniforms, however, did not disappear with the blue apron.
Advocates argue that standardized clothing can make economic differences between students less visible, reduce pressure to follow fashion trends and strengthen a shared school identity. Critics maintain that compulsory uniforms restrict individuality and place unnecessary controls on young people’s appearance.
Latinopoulou’s intervention has now brought that longstanding discussion back into the political spotlight. More than four decades after the blue apron disappeared from Greek classrooms, the question of uniforms has returned in an era shaped by social media, rapidly changing fashion trends and increased attention to personal appearance.
Whether Greece should reintroduce school uniforms remains open to debate, but the proposal has once again placed the old podia at the center of a broader conversation about equality, discipline and individual expression in schools.
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