SIMPANG RENGAM: All government schools will have up to a year to put into place and enforce the black shoe ruling for its students following public calls for a grace period.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the period was to allow everyone to get used to and adapt to the new ruling, including parents who might be burdened should the policy be implemented drastically.

For that period, he told reporters, no disciplinary action would be taken against students for not wearing black schools to school.

“For next year, we will allow students, whose parents have bought white shoes for them, to continue wearing these. We understand that the change cannot be forced on them.

“We are trying to be understanding so that all quarters, including parents and industry players, are happy,” he said after launching the service centre for the Simpang Renggam parliamentry constituency here yesterday.

“We are not going for a hard landing but a soft landing because we don’t want anyone to feel burdened or pressured,” he said, adding that the ministry had also taken into consideration the concerns expressed by the shoe store owners.

In a statement on Facebook, Education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin said it took into consideration various factors, including the parents who might have already bought new white shoes for their schoolgoing children or could not afford new ones.

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

However, while some preferred black shoes for easy maintenance, some vouch for white shoes as a tool to instil a sense of responsibility in children.

Some traders had also complained about the waste in the stock of the white shoes should the ruling be implemented from next year.