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Second student dies after harsh orientation program
Another student of SMA Taruna Indonesia high school, Wiko Jerianda, died on Friday after a week of critical treatment at RK Charitas Hospital’s intensive care unit in Palembang, South Sumatra
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span>Another student of SMA Taruna Indonesia high school, Wiko Jerianda, died on Friday after a week of critical treatment at RK Charitas Hospital’s intensive care unit in Palembang, South Sumatra.
The 14-year-old was the second casualty recorded from a student orientation program held by the school, which allegedly involved harsh physical exercise and abuse.
Wiko had been undergoing intensive care since July 13 after participating in the week-long program that ended with a 14-kilometer walk from the program site to the school.
A lawyer appointed to represent Wiko’s family, Firli Data, said the teenager’s condition had worsened after he underwent a bowel resection to his injured intestine that was allegedly caused by violence during the school’s orientation program.
“Wiko’s family refuses to conduct an autopsy, but we reported the case to police on Friday night,” Firli said.
Taruna Indonesia, a semi-militaristic private high school that combines discipline similar to military or police academies, is in the spotlight after the deaths of two freshmen participating in its orientation program. The first-graders were taken to an Islamic boarding school site in Talang Jambe for a week of exercise that allegedly involved violence.
A few days earlier, Delwyn Berli Juliandro, 14, also died after passing out during the long walk. A coach has been named a suspect for allegedly hitting Delwyn’s head with a bamboo stick.
Firli said in the last six days before Wiko’s death, he had been mumbling in his sleep. “Don’t hit me” and “Forgive me, sir,” said Firli, repeating what Wiko said.
Firli had assisted Wiko’s family to report his condition to the police.
Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) commissioner Retno Listyarti had visited Wiko at the hospital and revealed that he had no history of illness prior to the orientation program.
“Wiko’s mother admitted that he had suffered [after the program],” Retno said after a meeting at the South Sumatra Education Agency office on Friday.
Retno said Wiko’s mother told her that entering the semimilitary school was a step to pursue his dream of becoming a military or police officer.
The KPAI commissioner said the school had violated Education and Culture Ministerial Regulation No. 28/2016 on school orientation, in which violence has to be avoided by schools. The duration of such programs is also limited to three days.
Retno said Taruna Indonesia had poor standards despite it running a boarding school and having high tuition fees. She went on to ask the local administration to evaluate the school’s orientation system and conduct a financial audit before extending its permit that will end this October.
South Sumatra Education Agency head Widodo said the agency was evaluating the school and considering to suspend its operations if it found any violations.
“The easiest sanction will be restructuring the school’s system,” he said.
Wiko was buried on Saturday in a funeral that was also attended by South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru.
He said the case had become his priority and he would punish the school if it was proven to have violated regulations.
“We have set an investigation team consisting of representatives of parents and the education agency. The team will work over the next week. I demand that the [militaristic] student orientation program be stopped,” Herman said. (asp)
