Internal Trade Department to fix prices of student uniforms before the start of school

The Internal Trade Department is preparing to send a letter to the Ministry of Education to call for all schools nationwide to fix the prices of student uniforms, in an attempt to reduce the burden on parents. Meanwhile it is also calling for collaboration from sellers to hold uniform-selling booths before school opens.

Internal Trade Department Director-General Siriphol Yodmuangcharoen (ศิริพล ยอดเมืองเจริญ) revealed that there is no policy to allow the raise in the prices of student uniforms at the moment. He asserted that the cost of producing the products is not so high as that claimed by operators, because production was done in a mass-volume fashion. Thus he is preparing to coordinate with the Ministry of Education in telling schools throughout the country not to raise prices of student uniforms before the coming school term. He will also ask for collaboration from producers of all brands of student uniforms to help fix prices, both whole-sale and retail, for the time being. This was to reduce parents' burden during schools' opening.

The Department of Internal Trade will also be joining with uniform producers to sell student uniforms at low prices, at department stores, under the Blue Flag scheme.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 March 2006

Wonder if the "students" at skoolhouse get their uniforms for that set rate?

Two big thumbs up if they get all this coordinated.

It is, indeed, a HUGE burden on many, many low income families, particularly those with several kids in school, to come up with the cash to buy these uniforms. Improving the uniforms' durability would go a long way too in helping out these struggling families, too.

As the uniforms are made by the millions, no reason why big discounts can't be expected on their manufacturing.

geeze ... didn't even get a grin .....

I agree ... though being in favor of free markets ..... I'd rather see Gov't schools issue vouchers or supply the uniforms directly .... rather than price fixing country wide .... but that raises the QA question even more!

I know of one school that has it's teachers making uniforms. Cheap bastards. Believe me, the teachers want nothing to do with it but are forced or get the boot.

Making the students wear uniforms, and then not providing the uniforms for free, is what the Americans call an "unfunded mandate." If all Thais were as rich as the Parliament members, there'd be no need to subsidize the cost.

I agree ... though being in favor of free markets ..... I'd rather see Gov't schools issue vouchers or supply the uniforms directly .... rather than price fixing country wide .... but that raises the QA question even more!

Anyway, the gvt continues its stupid -but beloved- policy : subsidy and fixed prices.

Fuel, electricity, natural gas, sugar.... the list is massive.

And the big advantage : it curbs official "inflation".

Pretty painless system of wealth redistribution ... that isn't too painful for the folks paying the taxes ...

Internal Trade Department to fix prices of student uniforms before the start of school

Rather a stupid headline!

There would be no point in fixing the price after school starts.