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