Uniform shoes not linked to GN-OTA

Uniform shoes not linked to GN-OTA

From Republika

Reports in the media on the standardizing of shoes for
students from elementary up to high school, referred to as "GN-
OTA shoes", have prompted us to respond and explain the link with
the GN-OTA institute.

GN-OTA, the national foster parents movement, supports the
government program of nine-years compulsory education, as a way
of helping children who have not had elementary education because
their parents lack the necessary funds.

The institute endeavors to help parents so they can send their
children to school. Therefore, the institute supports no program
that would create a burden for these parents.

If reports on uniform shoes for students, referred to as "GN-
OTA shoes", are true, it is not a GN-OTA program. We are not in
the know about the project. We learned about it from the
newspapers.

If it is true that the shoe manufacturers will donate part of
their proceeds to GN-OTA we have not been informed.

In our efforts to help foster children, we give them a GN-OTA
package which contains, among other things, two pairs of shoes
which we have purchased at a far lower price than the one quoted
in the media.

The quality of the shoes in the package has been tested. And
we select shoes from more than one manufacturer.

GN-OTA packages are given free of charge to foster children.
They contain the minimum requirements for one school year. The
aid to these children further consists of school fees directly
channeled into the schools.

The GN-OTA activities are in line with the government's policy
of lighten parents' burden so they can send their children to
school.

If there are protests about the uniforming of shoes, we think
these arguments are logical because the price is beyond the
purchasing power of many parents, especially parents of foster
children.

We appeal to the community not to link the "GN-OTA shoes" with
the GN-OTA institute because it is not one of our programs.

We request that any activity referring to GN-OTA, which is
seen as a burden to parents, is mentioned to us as soon as
possible.

HALIMAH B. TRIHATMODJO

Chairwoman of the GN-OTA Board

Jakarta