"Every student in the country has the right to choose whatever uniform they would like to wear."

These are the words of Education Minister Filipe Bole following recent reports that students at a school in Labasa were forced to wear school shorts because of their race.

Bole said that he has heard of the reports from Labasa College that afew students were told to wear school standard shorts as it was part of the school rule that Indian students had to wear shorts and not Sulus which Fijian students were only allowed to wear.

According to Labasa College School rules, from Monday to Thursdays, Indian students as well as those of other racial groups are supposed to wear white school shorts with their shirts and they are asked to wear sulus only on Fridays to promote racial unity.

However, Bole said the Ministry stands firm on their decision that the students have a choice on what to wear as long as it is their school uniform.