BLHI against uniform shoes
BLHI against uniform shoes
From Sinar Pagi
The appeal that some officials from the Ministry of Education and Culture have made to parents, regarding the purchase of shoes with the brand name Osis (School Pupils Organization), is not only out of place and illegal but it also deviates from the education bureaucracy's role.
What these officials have done may be categorized as an offense and disadvantaged parties, in this case parents of pupils/students, may sue them in court either jointly or separately. It is, therefore, best for the government to stop this irregular practice.
An attempt made by the shoe manufacturer PT ANP to exploit school children for their own commercial interest, by using certain officials from the Ministry of Education and Culture, is an indication of collusion and corrupt practices.
A public prosecutor may investigate this matter on the assumptions that a criminal offense has been committed and that there are factors which may be categorized as harming public interests, causing economic disruption and tarnishing the education sector with a negative, profit-related business.
The central board of the Indonesian Environmental Development Agency (BLHI) is of the opinion that this appeal cannot be justified.
Every parent of a school child deserves the right to refuse to buy the shoes, which are being sold for Rp 21,000.
Any coercive act is an offense and constitutes a criminal act and those involved may be prosecuted pursuant to the prevailing laws.
To prevent any negative impact from this alleged practice of collusion in the shoe matter, this profiteering practice -- which ignores morality -- must be immediately canceled and prohibited.
The government has the obligation to protect the education sector against commercial exploitation and profit-related business practices which also have multiple adverse economic, moral, cultural and political impacts.
More than this, educational autonomy must continue to be upheld. It is noteworthy that even in a communist state there has never been any attempt to enforce uniformity of shoes.
So, does a free choice of shoes not exist in a state based on Pancasila?
The appeal for uniformity of shoes is indeed a very inappropriate step considering that the country is now in the midst of a monetary crisis. In addition, the nation is facing various other hurdles which are overshadowing the run-up to the 1998 general assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly.
AGUS MIFTACH
General Chairman/Executive
Coordinator of the Central
Board of BLHI, Jakarta