A MELBOURNE mother who spoke out after her daughter was denied the right to wear pants as part of her uniform says the school has backpedaled on the policy.

“The principal called me today and said she hadn’t responded very well in the first place and that they would form a committee to discuss the changes and then roll them out,” a delighted Simone told Kidspot.

“I haven’t told Asha yet because she’s at school, but she’s going to be rapt.”

After her daughter was denied the right to wear pants to school under the uniform policy, Simone Cariss set up an online petition calling for laws to guarantee school uniform gender equality.

Asha, a Grade 1 student at a Catholic primary school she has not named, was refused the right to wear pants like boys in her class.

OPINION: LET OUR GIRLS WEAR PANTS TO SCHOOL SAYS SUSIE O’BRIEN

The policy allows boys to wear pants during winter but restricts girls to a tunic and thick stockings.

Mrs Cariss said Asha finds it uncomfortable to take part in sports wearing her tunic but, when she asked the school if Asha could wear pants, she was refused.

The school told her the uniform serves its intended purpose, Mrs Cariss said, but she questioned the legality of the policy.

“I don’t think they’re above the law and in terms of discriminating, I think they’re discriminating based on gender and I don’t think schools should be allowed to do it,” she told 3AW.

Asha does not like wearing dresses and, until starting school, has never chosen to wear one, Mrs Cariss said.

“Running around doing cartwheels, swinging on the monkey bars, their dresses fly, flashing their undies everywhere and that’s not ideal either,” she said.

“I feel like they should have at least have the choice to wear pants or shorts and they don’t.”

The petition has so far raised almost 2800 signatures.

