Minister demands investigation of student death during orientation

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh has ordered a thorough investigation into the recent death of Amanda Putri Lubis, 16, a new student at SMUN 9 High School in Serua subdistrict, Ciputat, South Tangerang.

Amanda died at home in Serpong, South Tangerang, early on Wednesday after suffering a respiratory failure.

The cause of Amanda's death has not yet been ascertained, but earlier she had been involved in the school’s three-day orientation program (MOS).

“[The cause] of her death must be investigated”, Nuh said Thursday evening as quoted by kompas.com.

He did not mention whether his office had reported the case to the police.

Nuh, however, promised that his office would impose strict penalties on the management of SMUN 9 high school should the investigation find indications that the orientation program had involved violence.

He said bullying and physical abuse during orientation activities had to be stopped, since these were not in line with the character-building goal of education.

“We will see, but we can’t blame the school if it turns out that the orientation activities were run in accordance with the law,” he said.

Amanda’s parents have alleged that she died from physical fatigue as a result of the orientation activities, reasoning that she was apparently in a healthy condition before she took part in them.

SMUN 9 principal Neng Nurhemah denied the allegations.

“[Amanda] was treated well, like the other students”, she said.