PETALING JAYA: A grace period should be given to schools and families before the Education Ministry implements the black shoes ruling for students from next year, a parents’ group said.

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the ministry should not be rigid on the matter.

“In fact, they should allow schools and parent-teacher associations to come up with a suitable mechanism to implement this.

“You cannot expect double-­income parents with two children in a city to share the same budget as a family of six in a village with a single irregular income.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had said the ruling was made following suggestions by parents, who complained that white shoes were easily soiled and difficult to maintain.

Volunteer-run initiative Gerai OA (Orang Asal or indigenous minorities) also raised the issue of cost on Facebook by sharing a photo of a barefooted boy holding his school shoes in his hands.

“Many indigenous students only own one pair of school shoes and this is a common sight in villages – students removing their shoes to keep them clean and dry for the duration of the school week.

“Indigenous parents should be allowed to opt for the cheaper, black ‘Adidas kampung’ – a one-piece shoe made from rubber commonly worn by villagers and which usually cost under RM10 per pair,” the post said.

MCA publicity spokesman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, in a statement, urged the ministry to focus on more pertinent issues other than the colour of school shoes.

Among the important issues, he said, were the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate, bullying and gangsterism, and education access in remote interiors.

“Was there any consultation or studies done or was it just a knee-jerk decision?

“Also what will happen to the excess stock of white shoes held by factories and suppliers? It will be a loss if they cannot sell them by the year’s end,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Union of Teaching Profession secretary-­general Harry Tan said white shoes get dirty easily and are harder to upkeep.

“This is most evident when students take part in Physical Education and other co-curricular activities on the field.

“It is the ministry’s prerogative to make the ruling and a standard rule on the shoes must be made to avoid discrimination in the system,” he said.