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