The management of Wisata Junior High School said they would welcome back a girl who was one of eight alleged victims of sexual abuse.
The suggestion to move her to another school was only a last resort, the school said, if the student felt uncomfortable studying at Wisata after so much media coverage.
"If she still wants to study here, we will welcome her," Gusi Made Raka, the school's principal, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
"We will wait and see her development here. There must be a psychological burden *with attending the school*, as many students know about the case from the media."
On Tuesday, the victim's mother said she was frustrated when the school suggested she move her daughter to one of two schools, offering financial assistance if she could not enroll in either school.
School spokesperson Made Suami said the school would move girl to another school only if she wanted to go. She said that if the girl still wanted to continue her education at Wisata, she would have to obey the school's regulations on class attendance and would not be given special treatment over truancy.
She said the school had openly talked with other students to make sure they stayed friends with the girl and learned from her experience.
"We told students that she was a victim. We reminded them to be careful in choosing friends so make sure there were no more victims," Suami said.
Raka said that what happened to the victim was beyond the school's control as it occurred out of school hours. Teachers at the school, he said, would help the student adjust back to the school environment, providing additional assistance on lessons where she may be behind due to two weeks of absence.
"The final examination will be held in May and the students will face the mid-semester test in March. There are also some regular tests she may not participate in yet," he said.
The Sanur Development Foundation (YPS) board, which manages the school, discussed the victim's case and agreed with the decision to give the student the option to choose, said I Made Sudana, secretary of the foundation.
He said the board and the school management supported the parent's move to seek legal action and would keep following developments through the media.
Separately, Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Teuku Ashikin Husein said the investigation into the case was still underway, saying police officers had collected information from six more victims.
Denpasar Police Chief Sr. Comr. Alit Widana said police were experiencing difficulty identify-ing potential victims of sexual assault, because victims often felt ashamed.
He said he would summon KS, the man who allegedly showered the victims with money and later sexually abused them. The official letter to summons him had been completed.
Ashikin said he doubted the allegation of child trafficking, saying it was more likely that the perpetrator used the children for his own pleasure.
"There is no indication that the children were sold. I think he made use of them for himself," he said.
