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View all search resultsThe bullying crisis
The recent series of child bullying cases reveals a systemic failure of our education system to protect children.
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Students make handprints on Nov. 12, 2018, to create a wall mural as part of an anti-bullying campaign in Medan, North Sumatra.
(Antara/Septianda Perdana)
T
he death of a 13-year-old junior high school student in South Tangerang, Banten, last week marks yet another bleak moment for Indonesia’s education system.
According to his family, the seventh grader, identified only as MH, had been subjected to relentless bullying since he entered the school in July. That abuse allegedly culminated in a fatal attack in which a classmate struck him on the head with an iron chair.
Tragically, MH’s story is not an anomaly. He is reportedly the sixth Indonesian student this year to die from violent bullying at school, with some victims as young as eight years old.
Worse yet, the crisis has evolved beyond the immediate harm inflicted on victims; it is now driving some desperate students toward violent retaliation.
Just days before MH’s death, police detained a student at state senior high school SMAN 72 Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta for allegedly planting explosives on school grounds, reportedly injuring 94 people. Media reports suggest the student had long endured bullying and repeatedly sought help from teachers, only to be ignored.
Earlier this month, Banda Aceh police also arrested a student from a local Islamic boarding school for allegedly setting fire to his dormitory. He told investigators he committed the arson to avenge his bullies.
These incidents reveal a systemic crisis, exposing how our education system is failing in its most fundamental duty: protecting the children in its care. Understandably, parents across the country are calling on the government to take stronger, more effective measures to ensure schools remain safe spaces for learning.
