Govt Denies Rp170,000 Shoe Claim for People's School Students

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf denied circulating social media claims that a pair of Rp170,000 school shoes had been distributed to Sekolah Rakyat (People's School) students.

Saifullah, known as Gus Ipul, clarified that a photo showing him distributing shoes alongside East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa was not part of procurement carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Gus Ipul stated that the shoes distributed with Khofifah were a specific donation provided by the East Java governor to People's School students in the region.

“I am aware of the photo circulating on social media showing me distributing shoes with Khofifah. Those shoes were given by Khofifah, not by the Ministry of Social Affairs. There is a significant difference in quality. They are not the standard for People's School students,” he said at the ministry’s office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

He explained that the distribution was carried out at a People's School in the Malang area. “So those were not the shoes in question. They were not procured by the Ministry of Social Affairs,” he added.

However, Gus Ipul did not specify the exact price of the shoes distributed with the East Java governor. He emphasized that the Ministry of Social Affairs’ procurement for school shoes is set at Rp700,000, with actual purchase prices ranging from Rp250,000 to Rp640,000.

He also presented details of the procurement, including various types of shoes provided to People's School students through the ministry.

These include student school shoes, middle and high school student shoes, elementary school student shoes, sports shoes for teachers and students, teacher shoes, daily elementary school shoes, daily middle and high school shoes, and socks, which are included in the price of each pair.