Uniform shoes a marketing ploy<\/p>\n
A private shoe company's initiative has developed into quite a
\ntalking point among parents in Indonesia. The issue is whether
\nstudents should be made to wear uniform shoes supplied by PT Aryo
\nNusa Pakarti (ANP).<\/p>\n
Somehow, by whatever means, this company succeeded in
\nobtaining an endorsement from the Ministry of Education and
\nCulture's directorate general of elementary and intermediate
\neducation. As a result, all school students in West and East Java
\nare to wear shoes made by ANP.<\/p>\n
If the campaign proves successful in those two provinces,
\nelementary and high school students throughout Indonesia will be
\nasked to buy ANP shoes.<\/p>\n
Naturally, we are shocked by this kind of marketing strategy.
\nIt reminds us that our bureaucracy can become a most effective
\ntool for business people wanting to monopolize their products.<\/p>\n
Another interesting question, of course, is how ANP obtained
\nthe relevant circular letter from the directorate general. We can
\nimagine how cleverly the ANP people lobbied the ministry's
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
Having been independent for so long, Indonesia must begin
\ncultivating a greater maturity among our people in regard to
\ntheir thoughts and behavior. A glorification of uniformity
\nimplies a denial of the character and dignity of the individual.<\/p>\n
From elementary school through senior high school, our
\nchildren are made to perform an overwhelming variety of uniform
\ntasks. To a certain degree, uniform clothes are acceptable.
\nExtending this uniformity to shoes, however, seems excessive.<\/p>\n
To accept this endeavor is to open the possibility for
\nofficials and businesspeople to make compulsory uniform school
\nbags, ribbons, hats etc.<\/p>\n
We certainly oppose the idea of uniform shoes. The matter,
\nhowever, does not stop there. The question of how ANP was able to
\nobtain a letter of endorsement from the Ministry of Education and
\nCulture is worth examining.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/uniform-shoes-a-marketing-ploy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }