Indonesia Society News: Social Issues & Education

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Jakarta Post
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‘I’m sorry’: Indonesians apologize, urge foreign pressure over haze

Some Indonesians have been turning to social media to voice their frustrations and apologize about the uncontrolled wildfire that causes toxic haze reaching Malaysia, Singapore and other countries, while urging them to protest the Indonesian government over their handling on the issue.

4 hours ago
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Toxic forest fire pollution chokes children’s health

Nearly half of acute respiratory illness cases caused by wildfire in Sumatra and Kalimantan recorded in the past two months are children who are more vulnerable to wildfire haze because of their biological conditions. ...

1 day ago
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Diaspora feel ‘left out’ of dual nationality proposal

Various officials have raised ideas to give dual citizenship for people with Indonesian descent with “exceptional talents”, but some Indonesian diaspora conveyed that such a scheme should also be opened regardless of potential contribution to the country. ...

2 days ago

The Latest

Society

Indonesia's MotoGP project leaves evicted villagers in limbo

The motorbike-mad country of 270 million people will welcome newly-crowned MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to Lombok island this weekend for the first race since he matched Valentino Rossi's seven titles with victory in Japan.

1 year ago
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Stop the sirens: Jakartans call to end officials’ road privileges

Jakarta residents are rallying behind a viral call to end officials’ traffic privileges, arguing that police escorts and blaring sirens add chaos to already congested streets and symbolize inequality on the road.

1 year ago
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Stale and sickly: Parents fear free school meals

Parents are growing increasingly concerned about the government’s free nutritious meals program for schoolchildren amid a spike in food poisoning cases nationwide, with many fearing their children could suffer food poisoning next.

1 year ago
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Return of ‘Java Man’ fossil hailed, may open door for more ancient human study

‘Java Man’, or remains of a Homo erectus unearthed by Dutch geologist Eugene Dubois in Java, were used to suggest the existence of early human in Asia, challenging prevailing theories that ancient human only emerged in Africa and Europe.

1 year ago
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Govt insists on keeping free meals program running

The government insists on keeping the free nutritious meal program running and will only close problematic kitchens temporarily for investigation, despite numbers of food poisoning cases continuing to increase among school students.

1 year ago
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Education bill revision puts focus on budget allocation

With the Education Law revision set to bring sweeping changes, teachers and observers urge lawmakers to bring the revised law to reform how the constitutionally mandated 20 percent of state spending on education is allocated.

1 year ago
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Indonesian crew stranded off coast of Mozambique for nearly a year finally evacuated

The nine Indonesian crew members boarded the Gabon-flagged LNG tanker Gas Falcon in October last year. However, since November 2024, the vessel has been barred from leaving Beira, a coastal city approximately an hour’s flight from Maputo, because of legal disputes involving its owner.

1 year ago
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Pink and green: Colors of resistance, symbols of solidarity

Born from the streets and carried into the digital realm, two colors, pink and green, have become symbols of grief, courage and resistance in Indonesia’s latest wave of protests.

1 year ago
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Food poisoning surge prompts mass calls for free meals review

Civil society organizations are calling on the government to conduct a “total reevaluation” of the flagship free nutritious meal program in the wake of widespread food poisoning cases at schools across the country.

1 year ago
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MUI confirms Chinese-made food trays for free meal program tainted with pork lard

BGN head Dadan Hindayana, stated that the majority of trays used in the program were produced locally using plant-based lubricants. However, he acknowledged that Indonesia still imports approximately 4 million trays per month, as domestic manufacturers are unable to meet the growing demand.

1 year ago
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Indonesia speeds up plans for haj village project in Mecca

The government is accelerating plans to build special accommodation for Indonesian pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with construction of the so-called haj village expected to begin as early as the end of this year, following an instruction from President Prabowo Subianto to improve services.

1 year ago
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Authorities launch probe after student died of suspected mpox infection

Since Indonesia confirmed its first mpox case in 2022, the country has recorded 181 cases, including two fatalities.

1 year ago
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Calls grow to suspend free meal program after mass poisoning

President Prabowo Subianto’s free meals program faces mounting calls for suspension following repeated cases of mass poisoning that have heightened public concern over food safety and mismanagement.

1 year ago
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Child obesity surges as junk food, sugary drinks take over

A surge in childhood obesity across Indonesia is raising the alarm, with experts warning that the country’s children face a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and other life-threatening illnesses as junk food replaces healthier diets.

1 year ago
Society

Over 800 students suffer mass food poisoning from free meals program

From the program's launch in January, when the program was launched, over 4,000 children have been hit by food poisoning after consuming the meals, according to INDEF.

1 year ago
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Quality, not quantity: Teachers push back against free meals expansion plan

Teachers and education observers are urging the government to focus on improving teachers' welfare and the quality of meals served to schoolchildren, as well as refocus on the program's original aim to tackle childhood stunting.

1 year ago
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Plan to cap social media accounts sparks debate over online freedoms

Second Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria said earlier this week that the ministry was reviewing the measure, which would require each resident to maintain only one social media account, and that it had recently gained traction in the House of Representatives.

1 year ago
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Smart screens expose paradox in education policies

President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to equip hundreds of thousands of schools nationwide with smart screens has drawn cautious responses from education experts, who warn that the program may fall short if deeper structural problems in the sector remain unresolved.

1 year ago
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Forest fire still high in 2025 despite wetter dry season

Of at least 218,000 hectares with indications of being burned between January and August this year, nearly half were located in concession areas linked to oil palm, oil and gas and mineral mining businesses, a report discovered.

1 year ago
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Two Army soldiers arrested in BRI branch manager killing

Chief Sgt. N was allegedly directly involved in the kidnapping and homicide of the head of a state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia branch location in Central Jakarta, while Second Cpl. FH was suspected of recruiting other people for the criminal act.

1 year ago
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Former navy top brass warns on inflation of generals in TNI

There are 23 general-level officers posted in Riau Islands, 19 flag officers in the Indonesian Military (TNI) and four police generals.

1 year ago
Society

Indonesia faces greater flood risk this wet season, says weather agency

The wet season in Indonesia starts this month and ends in April 2026, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency head Dwikorita Karnawati said in a news conference. 

1 year ago
Society

Indonesia faces greater flood risk this wet season: Weather agency

The wet season in the archipelago starts this month and ends in April 2026, with peaks expected between November and February in most parts of the country.

1 year ago
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West Java family tragedy exposes silent toll of mental health crisis

A mother’s suicide in West Java, which also claimed the lives of her two children, has cast a harsh spotlight on Indonesia’s deepening mental health crisis, where economic hardship, stigma and limited access to care continue to drive rising, yet vastly underreported, cases of self-harm.

1 year ago
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Forest loss leads to heat-related deaths in Indonesia: Study

Indonesia has the largest number of people in the world affected by warming temperatures due to deforestation, with around 49 million people impacted, according to a recent study.

1 year ago
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Nadiem’s graft case underscores education corruption woes

The graft allegations against former education minister Nadiem Makarim have cast a harsh light on the education sector’s vulnerability to corruption, fueling calls for systemic reform ahead of what will be the country’s largest-ever education budget next year.

1 year ago
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Pestapora ends on sour note after mass pullout over Freeport sponsorship

Hailed as one of the biggest music festivals in the country, Pestapora ended this year’s iteration on a sour note after dozens of its performers, including headliners, pulled out from its lineup following the discovery of its controversial sponsorship from mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia.

1 year ago
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Indonesian crew stranded off Mozambique faces new crisis after tanker collision

The crew aboard the Gas Falcon, consisting of nine Indonesians and three Pakistanis, has been stranded in the Beira Sea since late last year, following legal issues involving the vessel’s owner, Gator Shipping Alfa.

1 year ago
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Measles, polio return as govt struggles with uneven coverage, incomplete immunization

Uneven vaccine coverage and incomplete immunization are among the key factors that have contributed to the return of measles, experts say, while the Health Ministry has recorded around 3,500 cases in at least 42 regions this year to date.

1 year ago
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Works underway to move two Javan rhinos to sanctuary

The Forestry Ministry, assisted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and other partners, is launching a program to move two Javan rhinoceros to a sanctuary at Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten for research and conservation purposes for the critically endangered species.

1 year ago
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Today's ePost

Thu, October 22, 2026

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