East Lombok Education Office Bans Schools from Selling Uniforms to New Students

The Education and Culture Office (Dikbud) of East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has prohibited all schools from selling uniforms to new students. This policy was issued following numerous complaints from parents regarding uniform sales practices within school environments.

The prohibition is stipulated in Circular Letter (SE) Number 100.4.4/911/Dikbud/2026. The letter emphasises that schools are forbidden from selling uniforms to new students, with the exception of sports attire and specific school-themed clothing.

The Head of the East Lombok Education and Culture Office, Muhammad Nurul Wathoni, emphasised that schools must not make the purchase of uniforms a condition for re-registration. According to him, the procurement of uniforms is the responsibility of individual students or guardians, rather than the school.

“We prohibit schools from requiring uniform purchases during the re-registration process for new students. The purchase of student uniforms is an independent matter for students or guardians; it is not the responsibility of the school,” said Warloni on Wednesday (1/7/2026).

Furthermore, schools are also prohibited from introducing new types of uniforms. The office has received many reports regarding schools adding various types of uniforms to their requirements.

“So far, the Education Office has noted many inputs and findings of schools adding types of uniforms. The purpose of this regulation is to make uniform usage simpler and to limit schools from organising uniforms outside of the established provisions,” Wathoni explained.

If a school wishes to implement the use of batik or specific school-themed uniforms, the policy must first be agreed upon with parents and coordinated with the Education Office. This step is taken to ensure that no additional financial burden is placed on parents.

“There must be coordination with us first and discussion with parents. We must ensure it does not become a burden for parents,” said Wathoni.

Wathoni also stated that the use of regional-themed uniforms will be regulated more simply. If previously worn every week, moving forward, such uniforms will only be required once a month.

“We have regulated that it is no longer every week, but once a month,” he concluded.