JAKARTA - House of Representatives (DPR) Chairwoman Puan Maharani highlighted the case of an elementary school student in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), who committed suicide because he could not buy books and stationery to study at school.
He emphasized that children's health and psychology issues must be a common concern.
"The case of the death of a child in Ngada Regency is certainly a grief that is quite heartbreaking and must be a lesson," said Puan in his statement, Wednesday, February 4.
Puan assessed that the basic needs of children who are unable to be met are a rebuke to the State. He assessed that the Government's education program is not enough to provide free school services, because school support needs such as stationery can be a problem for children from poor families.
"Educational programs, especially scholarships and educational assistance, must be able to overcome this problem. Schools must be able to map the background of their students, and ensure that every educational need can be provided," said Puan.
Puan emphasized that children's mental health issues must be a concern for all parties. He encouraged the issue of mental health and psychology for children in schools to be strengthened.
"This case in NTT is another example of how children's psychology can affect their character and decisions. Children's mental health must be a concern," he said.
"Good education must be able to provide a comfortable space for children while studying. How does the school pay attention to the personal and economic status of its students," continued Puan.
He hopes that YBR's death can be a lesson for all parties, especially for the Government in terms of national education programs and systems.
"This incident must be a turning point to evaluate a child-friendly education system that is able to maintain the health of students in a comprehensive manner, including mental and psychological health," said Puan.
Puan also asked the government to reach out to the community in the area for social assistance programs. He expressed concern that social awareness in the school environment should be a roadmap in the education system.
"We need to look at the problem in Ngada in a much more distant way, this case emerged because of poverty so the state must eliminate the root of the poverty problem," he said.
"Government programs must be directed to address the underlying issues in this case, namely poverty. Do not let any more lives of Indonesian young people be lost, just because they feel depressed because they cannot afford to buy books and pens," concluded Puan.
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