There are three major sins in our education world that were revealed by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim, namely bullying, intolerance, and sexual violence. According to the Chairperson of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Ai Maryati Solihah, M.Si, these three things must be addressed and become the concern of all parties.

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These three sins that occur in the world of Indonesian education are intolerable tragedies. All parties, said Ai, from the government, legislature, teachers and lecturers, observers, education observers, parents, to the community must realize that this can have a bad impact on children in the long term.

Bullying, for example, occurs at all levels of education. Bullying cases do not recognize school backgrounds, they can occur in public schools or religious schools. The locations are spread across villages and cities. Even international schools are exposed to bullying issues. "We recorded 134 cases in the world of education or schools that occurred in 2023, the highest being bullying cases. If expanded outside of school, the number becomes 446 cases. So bullying occurs in schools and outside of school," she said.

These three issues have been on the radar of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and have occurred for generations. Previously, bullying in the school environment was regulated around extortion, verbal and physical violence only. Now it has developed further, and this issue has been responded to by the state. The next step is the formation of a team for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Education Unit Environment (PPKSP) based on the Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Permendikbudristek) Number 46 of 2023. 90% of schools have formed this institution.

Cases of Human Trafficking (TPPO) that overlap with child prostitution are also of concern to KPAI. "For children trafficking, the figure is 380 cases. Of that number, the highest case is online prostitution. Children enter online prostitution, some of them are caught in pornography," said Ai.

One of the triggers for the high number of children entering this prostitution circle, according to Ai Maryati Solihah, is the advancement of information technology that is misused. "Their recruitment and marketing are carried out openly through social media. PPATK (Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center) found sexual crimes against these children through monitored transactions," she told Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto from VOI who met her at the KPAI office, Menteng, Central Jakarta, recently. Here is the full excerpt.

Bullying happens and happens again, how does KPAI view this issue?

Bullying cases are very escalatory and have a huge impact on the victims. It does not discriminate between public schools or religious schools, national or international schools. It can happen without looking at the background. We noted that there were 134 cases in the world of education or schools that occurred in 2023, and the highest was bullying. If expanded outside of school, the number becomes 446 cases. So, bullying occurs in schools and outside of school. This is what must be a concern. KPAI must be an institution that plays a role when regulations on bullying are strengthened. Permendikbudristek No. 46 of 2023 is the state's commitment to reducing the space for bullying that occurs in the world of education.

There are three major sins in the world of education that were underlined by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology: bullying, intolerance, and sexual violence. So, these three issues have been on the radar of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology which have occurred from generation to generation. Previously, the regulation on bullying in the school environment was only around extortion, verbal and physical violence. Now it has developed further, and this issue has been responded to by the state. The next step is the formation of a team for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Education Unit Environment (PPKSP) based on the Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Permendikbudristek) Number 46 of 2023. 90% of schools have formed this institution.

What are your hopes for the PPKSP?

Indeed, eliminating bullying requires a process. The hope is that bullying cases can decrease after this team is formed and working. But until today, complaints about bullying that have been submitted to the KPAI still exist. This can be an alarm for all of us. Even though there are laws, ministerial regulations, and socialization, it turns out that there are still bullying cases. Our goal is zero cases of bullying, intolerance, and sexual violence in schools.

The bullying that occurred at Binus School Serpong and Binus School Simprug has attracted the attention of many parties. How is it resolved?

We appreciate the cooperative school, as well as the victim's parents. Without the involvement of the school, cases like this are difficult to stop. Bullying cases are not to be covered up or to save parties outside the victim. We will provide support to the victim. However, it should be remembered that the perpetrators of bullying are also children. They must also be fostered, they cannot be immediately imprisoned. We must also think about the future of these children. The law must still be enforced to provide a sense of justice to the victim, but the perpetrator must also be helped. It cannot be that when one falls, another falls on the stairs.

Bullying must be resolved integrally. Children who are victims or perpetrators must be embraced, so that they can rise. All parties must join hands to resolve this problem. Once the problem is found, it must be resolved completely.

The issue of TPPO is also a concern for KPAI, what about this?

TPPO is a challenge for this country because the incidents are connected between regions and countries. If it happens to PMI (Indonesian Migrant Workers), they often experience fraud, work without documents, without clear status, and without clear salary. For child trafficking, there were 380 cases, and of that number, the highest case was online prostitution. Children enter online prostitution, and some of them are involved in pornography. Children engage in sexual activities whose recordings are spread and freely sold on the internet.

There was also a case of baby trafficking from Depok (West Java) to Bali. The perpetrators made parents voluntarily hand over their babies. In another place under the guise of an orphanage, there were 12 pregnant mothers. Two days before I arrived, two mothers had given birth, and after being born, these children were immediately sold. There were also people in charge of finding adopters (foster parents). So, the elements of TPPO have been fulfilled. This TPPO involves the accumulation of very large amounts of money. One baby is valued at up to IDR 45 million.

What about child prostitution?

This is also very sad, a child who is caught in the vicious circle of online prostitution must serve 20 people per day. If they do not reach that number, the child will be fined. This is very sad. They have no power over their own bodies.

What influences the high rate of child prostitution?

One of them is because of the rapid development of information technology that is misused. Their recruitment and marketing are openly through social media. PPATK found sexual crimes against children through monitored transactions.

In sexual crimes involving children, there are perpetrators and victims. What is the deterrent effect for the perpetrators and what can parents do to protect their children?

Every complaint that comes to KPAI, we always position these children as legal subjects. If he is a victim, he is still a human being who has the right to grow and develop, especially since he is still a child and has a future. Those who become victims of trafficking and sexual crimes, usually because they experience sexual violence, for example when dating goes too far. Then they are usually familiar with the nightlife. There are also those who have problems at school, such as rarely going to school. And the next is due to environmental factors.

Another cause is inappropriate parenting patterns. Children prioritize their friends over their parents. If this can be known early on by their parents, they can take preventive measures. Data from the KPAI in 2020, children who fall into sexual crimes do not receive proper parenting, they are heavily influenced by friends on social media.

For perpetrators of sexual crimes against children, what is done to have a deterrent effect?

For perpetrators as regulated in Law no. 21 of 2027 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Human Trafficking, there is an increase of 15 to 20 years for perpetrators who are proven guilty. Law enforcers sometimes have difficulty even though there is Law no. 35 of 2014 concerning amendments to Law no. 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection. The problem is that the perpetrators sometimes say that they did not force them, their children wanted to. They have reasons like that. What I observed is that Law No. 35 of 2014 is still weak in regulating sexual exploitation of children in the online realm.

The latest case in Tangerang City, an orphanage caretaker actually molested his foster child, how is this case resolved?

This case is very sad, I visited the orphanage for two consecutive days. There were four children who experienced sexual violence by the orphanage caretaker and supervisor. For the children, we carry out supervision while for the perpetrators, we encourage legal proceedings for the crimes they have committed.

Therefore, we must be careful with associations or orphanages that are not registered with the relevant Ministry. This is a sign that they do not want to be disturbed or intervened. Do not be dazzled by their names which have a certain religious character. In the context of Tangerang City, we will also coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs because they are also related to the closest state apparatus such as RT/RW and Kelurahan. They should also carry out supervision.

What are your hopes so that cases like the one in Tangerang City will not happen again?

The cleverness of the orphanage caretakers is to highlight the religious side of their institution. This becomes someone's motive to carry out their goals. In addition, the foster children there do not come from the surrounding environment, and this must be revealed, including their recruitment patterns or outreach efforts. In the case of Tangerang City, they did not list an account in the name of a foundation, but a personal one. Several donors complained to me, initially they believed it, but after this case was revealed, they regretted it.

For this case, Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf also stepped in directly. Hopefully the regulatory aspects of social institutions like this can be improved so that similar cases do not occur in the future. Hopefully from this case, we can be more vigilant in carrying out supervision so that similar incidents do not happen again. This is a big lesson for all of us.

What are your hopes for President Prabowo for the issue of children in Indonesia now and in the future?

We from KPAI will work optimally in accordance with laws and regulations. KPAI, in accordance with the mandate of the law, is an independent institution that focuses on child protection matters. To Mr. Prabowo, we hope that children's issues can be a concern. The issue of stunting is still our homework, how can the stunting rate be reduced. In addition, the issue of compulsory education for children, how is it truly implemented so that all children can get an education.

Internet access and healthy internet are also still very much needed by our children. However, how can they enjoy internet services that remain in the healthy category for their growth and development. This has not been realized and must be a concern. We also appreciate the free nutritious meal program, hopefully it can be realized and right on target, because this will be an important investment to welcome Indonesia Emas 2045.

What else does KPAI expect?

Our children must grow and develop in a conducive environment. Children must grow in a positive parenting pattern. This is still not well understood by many parties. Currently, there are still many parenting patterns that discipline children through violence. For example, prohibited but by being slammed, or punished but by being locked in the bathroom. Positive parenting should be able to become a program and curriculum in society.

In addition to upstream issues, there are also downstream issues that must be resolved, namely law enforcement against crimes against children. Sometimes children become victims, but often the perpetrators are also children. Regarding law enforcement, all parties must have one vision, between law enforcers, KPAI, and institutions that care about child protection. Although children must go through the legal process, their rights to grow and develop and receive education must still be guaranteed.

This is the Story of Ai Maryati Solihah's Interest in Child Protection

The interest of Ai Maryati Solihah, M.Si, who now serves as the Chairperson of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), in the world of children did not suddenly appear. Since childhood, she has been familiar with the environment of children. This situation continued to grow and develop until she grew up and devoted her knowledge to the education environment and protection of Indonesian children.

Growing up in a family Islamic boarding school environment founded by her parents made Ai accustomed to dealing with children's education. "I was used to dealing with noisy children while studying the Koran at our Islamic boarding school, even though they were sometimes older than me. That's where I found the excitement in the world of education," said the woman born in Cianjur, December 17, 1980.

One thing that made little Ai very happy was when there was a performance event at her Islamic boarding school. At that time, each student was given the opportunity to show off their skills in memorizing the verses of the Koran in front of their parents and the community. "My parents hoped that when I grew up, I could become a religious teacher in the village after finishing college," she said.

However, her parents’ hopes of teaching in her hometown in Cianjur, West Java, could not be realized immediately. Life at the Faculty of Islamic Education, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati, Bandung, opened Ai’s horizons and social circles. “Outside of campus activities, I was active in mentoring scavenger children at the Cingkring final disposal site (TPA), Bandung Regency. It turned out that the conditions there were not as beautiful as in my village,” said Ai.

She, together with the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) and the Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI), initiated alternative education for scavenger children at the TPA. “What we provide is formal education and Islamic religious education such as reciting the Koran and learning to read the Koran,” said Ai, an alumna of the Masters in Political Science, FISIP UNAS Jakarta (2014).

Compromise Attempt

After completing her studies, Ai could not be selfish with her own desires. She compromised with her parents' wishes who wanted her to become a teacher. "I followed my parents' wishes, finally I became a civil servant teacher and worked in Jakarta. The difference is, I have been enlightened with issues of gender, human rights, education, child protection, child violence, and bullying that occur so often," said the General Chairperson of the Female Islamic Student Movement Corps (KOPRI) 2005-2008.

Ai could not remain silent seeing the reality that there are still many Indonesian children who need help. She registered when KPAI opened a commissioner vacancy in 2016. "During the fit and proper test, I did not have high expectations, because my competitors were many senior and great. It turned out that I was the highest choice from Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives. So I was elected as a KPAI commissioner in 2017," she said.

When her job was only as a civil servant teacher at a school in Kemayoran, Ai still found it easy to manage time for her children and family. However, after her workload increased as a commissioner of the Central KPAI, she began to feel overwhelmed. "After becoming a KPAI commissioner, from waking up to going to bed again, my affairs are full for Indonesian children. I have to be able to divide my time between my own children and children in general," she admitted.

For the role of preparing meals and feeding them, Ai does not leave it to the babysitter. "Even though I am very tired, I try to do it anyway. Because that moment will not happen again. I have to make the most of it," she said.

Ai always advises her children to tell her about everything they experience every day, whether at home with the babysitter or at school, or when playing after school. From there, she will identify whether her children are experiencing strange things. "The time is two hours before the children go to bed. I will be a loyal listener for the children. This is a golden moment for us," she said.

Attention for Children

Now both of her children are studying at Islamic boarding schools. Even though they are separated, she still maintains communication with her children through their caregivers at the Islamic boarding school.

Ai builds a strong bond with her children even though they are not under her direct supervision. "That is why it is important for children to tell us what they experience and who they meet. Sometimes my child does not want to know what he is doing. When he is in place A, he says he is in place B. To overcome this gap, I have a 'spy'," she said.

Ai also pays attention to food. "Indeed, children do not immediately want to eat healthy food. Therefore, do not get tired of making them food and encouraging them to eat healthy food," she said.

According to Ai, children have the same opportunity to get an education and achieve their dreams. "There should be no disparity between children who live in the village and those in the city. They have the same opportunity to progress and develop. So, children must remain enthusiastic," said Ai who is currently completing a Doctoral program in Political Science at UNAS Jakarta.

To the children, she reminded them not to follow suit in socializing. "You must not follow suit in socializing, do not force yourself to socialize with a certain group because of solidarity. Stop! You must have personality and stand," he said, emphasizing that children should not be afraid to dream and pursue their dreams because there are many paths to that.

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To parents, she also reminded them not to be too pushy in their education. “Give your child the freedom to learn and pursue their dreams. Input and direction may be given, but do not force your child to do something they do not like. Because they will be the ones who will do everything,” advised Ai Maryati Solihah.

"Bullying must be resolved integrally. Children who are victims or perpetrators must all be embraced so that they can rise. All parties must join hands to resolve this issue. Once the problem is found, it must be resolved completely,"