Cuban schoolboys will be wearing shorts instead of long trousers in the next school year, Cuban Rebelde radio reported.

The change in uniform, which is being introduced as an economy measure, will apply to boys in the fifth and sixth grades of elementary school from the 1998-99 academic year onwards.

The BBC's Tom Gibb in Havana: "Cubans have to tighten theior belts in the new year" (Dur: 1' 04")

The wearing of shorts means that Cuba will be able to make big savings in the red fabric that is normally used in the manufacture of uniforms, to the extent that it will be possible to produce an extra 28,000 items of clothing, the radio said.

"The new uniform will also be more fashionable and more appropriate for our country's weather," it added.

Considerable thought has been given to the design of the new uniform.

"After discussing several designs with the Jose Marti Pioneers Organization and the Union of Young Communists - among others - the short pants design will have deep side pockets, creases in the front, knee-height pockets, and belt loops," the radio said.

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
 

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