JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen) Fajar Riza ensured that elementary school students (SD) with the initials Y in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara who ended their lives allegedly due to financial pressure were recorded as recipients of the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP).
"The child concerned is registered as a PIP recipient. At his school, there are 72 students who receive PIP, including the deceased," said Fajar when reviewing SMP Negeri 70 Kota Bandung, Friday, quoted by Antara.
He explained that the PIP funds received by the victim in 2025 had been disbursed in November and used for educational needs such as uniforms, shoes, books, stationery, and other school supplies.
However, Fajar assessed that the cause of the incident could not be simplified to one factor, because it involved psychological, emotional, economic, and social relations in the victim's environment.
"The 10-year-old child actually does not understand the meaning of suicide. Maybe in that way he thinks the problem will be solved. This is what we need to understand together," he said.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, continued Fajar, will carry out long-term interventions by strengthening the role of guidance counselors in schools, regulating the functions of the School Health Unit (UKS), and reactivating the role of guardian teachers in monitoring the condition of students.
"Teachers at school are the first party who can detect if there is a psychological problem in a child. This is what we are strengthening since 2025. Hopefully in the future cases like this can be suppressed," he said.
He also expressed deep concern over the incident and hoped that similar events would not be repeated. The government, according to him, is trying to respond to the issue structurally through policies.
"From various studies, there is no single factor that makes children commit such actions. There are many aspects that are interrelated," he said.
Fajar added that his party did not want to judge any party and was committed to protecting the privacy of the victim's family and the surrounding environment.
He also encouraged the strengthening of character education through the implementation of the Seven Habits of Indonesian Children to be Great so that the younger generation grows mentally healthy and is free from the pressures of life.
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