Latest news with #JPPI
The Star
11-06-2025
- The Star
Suspected fatal bullying cases in Indonesia highlight growing violence issue in schools
JAKARTA: The recent deaths of two elementary school students in Riau and South Sulawesi, reportedly due to bullying, highlight the alarming prevalence of violence in schools and the government's failure to ensure safe learning environments for children. Eight-year-old Khris Topel Butarbutar died on May 26, allegedly after being beaten by older students at SDN 12 Buluh Rampai State Elementary School in Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau. According to his father, Gimson Butarbutar, the second grader began complaining of a fever and stomach pain on May 20, a day after he returned home early from school because his bicycle tyres had been deflated by older students. 'He didn't initially tell me what was making him sick, but when I spoke to his friends, they said he had been beaten by four older students about a week earlier,' Gimson said on Sunday (June 8), as quoted by Kompas. 'When I asked Khris about it, he confirmed it. He said he had been bullied for some time because of his religion and ethnicity,' he added. According to Gimson, Khris was admitted to the hospital shortly afterward, where he suffered seizures and began bleeding from his mouth and ears. His condition continued to deteriorate until he eventually passed away. Gimson has reported five of Khris's fellow students, aged between 11 and 13, to the Riau Police on suspicion of assault. Last week, the Riau Police reported that they have questioned 22 witnesses in connection with the incident. An autopsy was conducted on Khris's body, revealing bruises on his stomach and left thigh consistent with blunt force trauma. However, the police stated that Khris's cause of death was a systemic infection resulting from a ruptured appendix. It remains unclear whether the ruptured appendix was caused by the alleged assault. Less than a week after Khris's death, 15-year-old Muhammad Raja Afnan, a student at SDN Maccini Sawah State Elementary School in Makassar, South Sulawesi, also died after allegedly being assaulted by three of his friends. The sixth grader passed away on May 30, following a five-day hospital stay across three different facilities, after initially complaining of chest pain. His family said he had multiple bruises on his body and burn marks resembling cigarette burns. Initially, Raja claimed his injuries were caused by falling while playing soccer, but he later revealed that he was allegedly assaulted by two elementary students at his school, as well as a junior high school student. The family has reported the case to the Makassar police, and authorities are currently investigating the incident. Data from the Network for Education Watch Indonesia (JPPI) shows a rising trend in reports of bullying in educational institutions over recent years. Last year, JPPI recorded a total of 573 bullying cases in schools and Islamic boarding schools nationwide, more than double the 285 cases reported the previous year. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) reported that in 2024, approximately 21,000 children fell victim to violence, a 34 per cent increase from the previous year. Among these cases, 17 percent occurred within educational institutions, with 9 per cent involving bullying by peers. According to a 2018 survey by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 41 per cent of Indonesian students reported being victims of bullying at least several times a month. This rate is nearly double the average bullying rate of 23 per cent reported across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. In 2023, the government issued an anti-bullying regulation in response to the rising trend of violence in schools. Among its provisions, the regulation mandates that all educational institutions establish Violence Prevention and Handling Teams (TPPKs) to protect students. However, observers have noted that implementation remains lax, with many teachers lacking the necessary training to recogniSe early signs of bullying and to effectively carry out prevention efforts. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Court orders Indonesian govt to provide free basic education in all schools
JAKARTA: The government is obligated to provide free education at the elementary level in both public and private schools, the Constitutional Court has said in its ruling on a judicial review petition against the 2003 National Education System (Sisdiknas) Law filed by an education watchdog. During a hearing on Tuesday, court justices read their conclusion that the implementation of Article 34 paragraph 2 of the 2003 law, which stipulates that basic education should be free of charge, was not inclusive of all as it has only been applied to public schools. In the Sisdiknas Law, the basic education level covers elementary and junior high school, including their equivalent in madrassas. The justices also noted that while the government provided funding to provide free education in public elementary schools, it failed to take notice of the limited capacity of these schools, which forced many students to enroll in private schools that charge for tuition. Such a situation, the court added, went against the state's obligation as stipulated in the law 'The state must implement a basic education financing policy that [covers] students in public and private schools as well as madrassas, through educational assistance mechanisms or subsidies, so that there won't be any gap in access to basic education,' Justice Enny Nurbaningsih said, reading the ruling on Tuesday (May 27). Free elementary education, the justice continued, is part of the economic, social and cultural rights of a citizen, which can be fulfilled 'gradually, selectively and affirmatively without being discriminatory' depending on the state's capacity. However, the court justices acknowledged that there are private schools offering additional curricula beyond that required by the government, such as international or religious schools. Enny said the government should not force these institutions to provide free education for their students, whose parents are aware of the tuition obligations of enrolling in such schools. Considering the state's limited capacity to fund students for their basic education, Justice Enny said the government should draw up a funding plan that prioritizes basic education needs in private schools that fulfill the criteria for such financial assistance. The court also urged private schools to help ease tuition costs for their students, especially in 'areas where there are no state-funded schools around'. The judicial review petition challenging the 2003 Sisdiknas Law was submitted in December 2023 by the Network for Education Watch Indonesia (JPPI). The plaintiff contested the phrase of 'compulsory basic education at least in the basic level without any charges' in Article 34 paragraph 2 of the law, arguing it should also apply for students in private schools. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
