Indonesia Society News: Social Issues & Education

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Jakarta Post
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As forests fragment, arboreal bridges offer orangutans a lifeline

Habitat fragmentation limits orangutan movement between populations, potentially reducing genetic exchange and raising the risk of inbreeding, with implications for the species’ long-term survival.

2 days ago
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UIII marks first commencement ceremony for doctoral graduates

The graduating class came from UIII’s four schools of Islamic studies, social sciences, economics and education sciences, including 99 international graduates from 22 countries. ...

4 days ago
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Forestry reform critical as wildfires threatens health, ecosystems

The plan to revise the 1999 Forestry Law may fail to address decades-long poor governance in the sector that has resulted in wildfires in large parts of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua throughout this year’s dry season, civil groups say. ...

4 days ago

The Latest

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Teachers' welfare remains poor despite govt's promises

Most nonformal teachers are paid far less than the regional minimum wage every month, despite government officials pledging to improve educators' welfare through various programs.

3 months ago
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Taxi driver named suspect in Bekasi rail tragedy as KNKT points to signaling flaws

Police have named a taxi driver a suspect in last month’s deadly rail accident in Bekasi, West Java, while transportation investigators have revealed new findings pointing to possible signaling and operational failures that caused the disaster.

3 months ago
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Formula milk inclusion in free meals program draws opposition

Baby formula, a processed food designed to supplement or substitute breast milk under certain conditions, can only be provided based on medical indications and doctors’ recommendations, according to the country’s pediatricians’ association.

3 months ago
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Police name 13 suspects for organizing illegal haj

The National Police have named 13 suspects for allegedly organizing unauthorized haj trips for this year’s haj season and umrah (minor haj) travels throughout the year, preying on more than 300 potential pilgrims and causing financial losses to victims.

3 months ago
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El Niño may raise stunting rate as food output falls and prices rise

IDAI chairman Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso said children are among the most vulnerable groups affected by climate change due to their still-developing immune systems and limited ability to regulate body temperature.

3 months ago
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Indonesia steps up Ebola surveillance after deadly Africa outbreaks

Indonesia has tightened health screening at airports and other entry points following deadly Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as authorities race to prevent imported cases of the highly infectious disease that has killed more than 130 people in Central Africa.

3 months ago
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Watching climate patterns may help bolster dengue response

Observing patterns of atmospheric conditions may help health authorities in better preparing mitigation and prevention efforts against the mosquito-borne disease, a recent study suggests, with the insect expected to flourish more in a warming world.

3 months ago
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Nadiem case deters young Indonesians overseas from returning

The prosecution of former education minister Nadiem Makarim, an Ivy League graduate who left Indonesia’s first unicorn start-up Gojek, which he cofounded, to serve in government, is fueling unease among young Indonesians overseas who now question whether returning home is worth the risk.

3 months ago
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Prabowo vows to fix problems in free meals program amid governance concerns

President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to address various problems surrounding his administration’s flagship free nutritious meal program, while defending the multibillion-rupiah initiative as essential for students and farmers nationwide amid mounting concerns over its governance.

3 months ago
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Govt raises chance to review visa waiver policy

The government is mulling a review of its visa waiver scheme after multiple raids exposed hundreds of foreign nationals allegedly abusing the facility to enter Indonesia and run online gambling and scam operations from Jakarta and two other cities.

3 months ago
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BPOM tightens OTC drug sales in modern retail outlets

Under the regulation, non-pharmaceutical retail outlets, such as supermarkets and convenience stores, are only allowed to sell over-the-counter (OTC) medications under the supervision of store employees who are trained and certified in drug storage, packaging and product handling. 

3 months ago
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Indonesia boosts vigilance after man found to be close contact of hantavirus patient

During a livestreamed press briefing on Monday, Health Ministry acting director general for disease control Andi Saguni said health authorities were bolstering their screening of international travelers coming into the country through ships or airplanes for the zoonotic virus.

3 months ago
Society

Vitamins over vaccines: Misinformation entrenched amid Indonesia measles surge

Misinformation circulating on social media about vaccines causing disease paralysis, behavioral problems, or worse has become an issue as the number of measles cases in Indonesia has soared, becoming the second-highest in the world behind only war-torn Yemen, according to the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI).

3 months ago
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Prisons, inmates assigned to cook free meals for schoolchildren

The Immigration and Corrections Ministry said it is currently building around 70 kitchens across prisons and detention centers nationwide, with about 36 expected to be operational by the end of the month.

3 months ago
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Nationwide screenings uncover early signs of hypertension in children

Around 663,000 schoolchildren screened this year in the government’s free health check program were found to have high blood pressure, raising concern over underlying conditions such as kidney damage linked to unhealthy lifestyles and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods.

3 months ago
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Indonesia on alert for hantavirus amid European cruise outbreak

Indonesia has detected 23 cases of hantavirus infections since 2024, with recent cases in Jakarta and Yogyakarta were assumed to have no connections with the outbreak on board of a European cruise ship.

3 months ago
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Sumatra disasters victims sue govt over slow response, recovery

Through the citizen lawsuit, the plaintiffs demand the court order the government to push for a more serious and coordinated disaster response in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, which suffered damage from cyclone-induced floods and landslides in November 2025.

3 months ago
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Intern deaths prompt overhaul of medical training system

The Health Ministry has pledged to overhaul Indonesia’s medical internship program to ensure fewer working hours and adequate leave, following the deaths of four intern doctors in just two months amid mounting scrutiny over overwork in the system.

3 months ago
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Saudi Arabia arrests 10 Indonesians for allegedly organizing illegal haj

Ministry spokesperson Maria Assegaff said the Indonesian government fully respected and supported Saudi Arabia’s policy of la haj bila tasrih (no haj without an official permit).

3 months ago
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Fourth intern doctor death in two months fuels calls for reform

The recent death of another intern doctor in Jambi, allegedly linked to overwork, marks the fourth such fatality in just two months and has intensified scrutiny of Indonesia’s medical internship program, with observers calling for urgent reforms to improve working conditions and trainee protection.

3 months ago
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Govt urged to step up efforts to free Indonesia seafarers held by Somali pirates

The tanker MT Honour 25, along with its crew, was reportedly seized by Somali pirates while carrying fuel from Oman to Somalia on April 21.

3 months ago
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Proposal to close university majors under scrutiny

A higher education ministry official argued several majors, such as education and medical degrees, have been oversupplying graduates, leaving hundreds of thousands of graduates from such programs without employment.

3 months ago
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Probe underway for Bekasi train crash as another accident raises safety concerns

The Jakarta Police have escalated their handling of last week’s fatal train collision at Bekasi Timur Station in West Java, moving from a preliminary inquiry to a full investigation amid renewed scrutiny over railway crossing safety following another deadly crash in Central Java.

3 months ago
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Malaria hits record high in Indonesia as elimination challenges persist

Geographical conditions of malaria hotspots, climate-induced extreme weather, people migrations and limited funding are among obstacles to health authorities’ effort to achieve national target of disease elimination by 2030.

3 months ago
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Roblox limits chat feature for under-16 users in Indonesia

Following a mandatory facial age estimation provided by the platform, Roblox will transition 23 million accounts owned by under-16 users to either a Kids account with no chat feature or a Select one that is allowed to communicate with approved family members and friends.

3 months ago
Society

Roblox announces control measures to comply with Indonesia's social media curb

The first measure is age verification through facial scanning for all under 16 Roblox users in Indonesia, minister Meutya Hafid told reporters

4 months ago
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Train accidents mount as crossings left unchecked

Despite repeated fatal incidents, locals continue to use the level crossing near Bekasi Timur Station, as it remains an essential route to work and public services amid weak safety supervision.

4 months ago
Society

Women paid the highest price in Bekasi train tragedy

World Bank figures show more Indonesian women workers and commuters depend on public transport than men in a workforce where the manpower ministry says they accounted for about 40 percent in 2024.

4 months ago
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Yogyakarta daycare abuse exposes oversight failures

A daycare abuse case in Yogyakarta involving at least 53 children has triggered nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of Indonesia’s childcare oversight system, prompting authorities to intensify inspections of unlicensed facilities and tighten regulatory enforcement.

4 months ago
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Bekasi deadly train crash renews railway safety concerns

President Prabowo Subianto and experts pointed to level crossings as a key factor leading to the fatal collision between a Greater Jakarta commuter train and an intercity train that killed at least 15 passengers and left 88 others injured.

4 months ago

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