During The Pandemic, 11 Junior High School Students In Bone Bolango Gorontalo Decide To Get Married

GORONTALO - Dozens of junior high school (SMP) students in Bone Bolango, Gorontalo Province decided to marry young during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was conveyed by the Regent of Bone Bolango, Gorontalo Province, Hamim Pou, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, April 7. According to Regent Hamin Pou, the decision to marry young was triggered by the absence of activities at school.

"We find it in many places because there has been no learning at school for too long, causing many heartbreaking incidents", said Regent Hamim Pou.

Regent Hamim Pou said he was surprised by the information that 11 students in his area were married young. "They marry young, but that is not allowed. There are 11 junior high school students in Bone Bolango already married", he said.

In fact, he continued, according to the Marriage Law, the age of marriage had been regulated and the minimum age for men and women was determined. "If you get married at the age or age of the junior high school, of course, this violates the Marriage Law", he said.

Law Number 16 of 2019 concerning Amendments to Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, states that the minimum age limit for marriage for women and men is 19 years.

Hamim is also worried that if face-to-face learning in schools does not open, there will be many students who will marry young. Or not married but have children outside of marriage.

The Regent encourages face-to-face learning to be carried out quickly because it has taken too long and there is concern that it will further reduce the quality of human resources (HR).

"That's why I want us here to be able to discuss and what will be the local government's attitude regarding the plan to open face-to-face learning in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, the main thing is to prioritize and pay attention to health protocols", he explained.