It is ‘ridiculous’ to make schoolchildren wear old-fashioned uniforms featuring ties, skirts, drab jumpers and blazers, according to Newstalk Breakfast presenter Jonathan Healy.

Yesterday, columnist Jen Hogan questioned why schools are forcing children to “dress like adults of old” – noting that most uniforms are cumbersome and completely impractical.

Opening the show this morning, Jonathan questioned why children can’t simply wear a tracksuit to school.

“I have opinions on the school uniform,” he said. “I think it's ridiculous to put children into ties.

“I don't know why we make children - both boys and girls - wear ties, even the elastic ones.

“Then there’s the grey trousers, drab jumpers, blazers – we are still in that era whereby we're making kids do that and I can't understand why we would do that.”

'Drabber the better'

Fellow presenter Shane Coleman said he feels school uniforms are a case of “the drabber the better”.

“I like the idea of school uniforms,” he said. “Less distractions, focus on education, not fashion.

“It’s a level playing field. You don't have some kids feeling left out because they don't have the latest designer gear.

“It's easier to get ready for school. You know exactly what you have to do every morning.

“I like the idea of school uniforms. I think it can be done in a cost-efficient way. I think you can have a cheerful, bright and relatively cheap school uniform that just takes all the pressure off kids.”

School uniform

Jonathan said he would have no issue if the uniform was practical.

“My child's primary school, they got rid of the uniform years ago and brought in a unisex tracksuit,” he said.

“Everybody is dressed the same, that ticks the box for you, but it's practical.

“It's a tracksuit, it's easy to wash, it can take terrible abuse.”

“It's not about fashion, but it's about at least making the uniforms practical,” he continued.

“I think that most uniforms are completely impractical.”