Schools Must Be A Safe Place, Gibran: No More Cases Of Bullying And Criminalization

JAKARTA - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka emphasized that there should be no more cases of violence and bullying against students or criminalization of teachers.

Gibran said the school environment must be a safe and comfortable place for teachers and students.

"So, the school must be a safe and comfortable place for teachers and students. There should be no more cases of violence, cases of bullying, no more cases of teacher criminalization," said Gibran when giving directions at the elementary and secondary education evaluation coordination meeting, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 11.

The Vice President emphasized that although currently there is a Child Protection Act, the regulation should not be used as an instrument for "attacking" teachers.

He invited the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education to jointly encourage the formation of the Teacher Protection Act.

According to him, the existence of legal protection for teachers can create a sense of security and provide flexibility for them to educate more discipline.

"So, maybe in the future we also need to encourage the Minister, the Teacher Protection Law. So, teachers can be comfortable and have room to educate in ways that remain disciplined, but there must be laws and protection," said Gibran.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, said the coordination and evaluation meeting for primary and secondary education was attended by heads of education offices from all over Indonesia and a number of regional heads.

The event aims to improve the performance of the policies that have been implemented by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

There were two main issues discussed at the event. First, related to zoning policies and the admission system for new students (PPDB), and the second issue regarding teacher policies that have the status of Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK).

"These are two issues that are polemic in society," said Abdul Mu'ti.