JAKARTA - The phenomenon of bullying is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in educational settings. The increase in bullying cases indicates a decline in children's knowledge of ethics and etiquette in today's modern era.
According to the official website of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), 35 percent of the 114 cases of violence against children handled by the KPAI occurred in educational settings. In fact, 46 children were recorded as having taken their own lives, with 48 percent of these cases occurring in educational settings.
Child psychologist Seto Mulyadi, also known as Kak Seto, revealed that one factor contributing to the rise in bullying cases is social media in the modern internet era.
"Furthermore, children also see examples of violence, bullying, and so on in various places, so they perceive violence as normal," said Seto.
Seto explained that educators should understand the five educational contents according to the Ministry of Education: Ethics, Aesthetics, Science and Technology (Iptek), Nationalism, and Health.
"This health includes mental health. Children's mental health must be taken into consideration and schools chosen that also address this," he said.
The schools listed below are gaining popularity among parents due to their focus on developing children's character and morals from an early age.
(1). Pahoa Integrated School
Pahoa Integrated School is a trilingual school that intensively teaches three languages (Indonesian, Mandarin, and English) with an emphasis on character education. It is located in Summarecon Serpong and, most recently, in the Summarecon Crown Gading area.
Pahoa has long been known as a comprehensive educational institution, offering preschool through high school levels. Focusing on Attitude, Communication, and Thinking (ACT), Pahoa Integrated School cultivates students with noble personalities, good communication and language skills, and critical thinking skills.
These values are not only taught in the classroom but also implemented in extracurricular activities, daily interactions, and are directly modeled by the teachers. This approach ensures that students not only understand the concept of character, but are also able to implement it in action.
(2). Al Azhar Summarecon Islamic School
Al Azhar Summarecon Islamic School, under the auspices of the Syiar Bangsa Foundation, is present in various strategic locations, including Summarecon Bekasi, Summarecon Serpong, Summarecon Bandung, and Summarecon Makassar. Prioritizing character education based on Islamic values, Al Azhar Summarecon combines the National Curriculum with Al Azhar's unique Muslim Personal Development Curriculum (KP2M).
This curriculum focuses not only on academic achievement but also on moral development, religious habits, Quranic learning, and the application of ethical values in daily life. Through intracurricular and extracurricular activities, the school fosters superior character traits such as empathy, discipline, leadership, collaboration, and independence, thus forming a generation that is knowledgeable, moral, and ready to be role models.
(3). Sedaya Bintang Integrated School (Summarecon Bandung)
Sedaya Bintang Integrated School is Summarecon's newest educational institution, located in Summarecon Bandung. The school will begin operations in the 2025/2026 academic year, serving preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school levels, and will expand to junior high and high school levels.
Sedaya Bintang is designed to provide a holistic education by combining academic excellence with strong character building. Similar to Pahoa, this school also integrates moral and character education into every teaching and learning activity to foster their daily lives.
"Character education plays a crucial role in shaping positive habits and character in children. Positive values such as ethics, courtesy, compassion, cleanliness, and honesty are instilled from an early age. This is crucial to prevent inappropriate behaviors like bullying," explained Melva Manalu, Principal of Sedaya Bintang Integrated School, Summarecon Bandung.
In practice, students are encouraged to engage in social activities and actively participate to foster empathy, social awareness, and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, good daily habits are implemented as a form of character education, where teachers act not only as instructors but also as role models demonstrating positive behavior and character.
Children who are guided to respect differences, be polite, and considerate of others' feelings will grow into individuals who value friendship and reject all forms of violence, both physical and verbal. "By developing empathy, children will provide support to friends who are different or experiencing difficulties," she said.
"Therefore, character education is a crucial key in developing a generation with good character and upholding mutual respect, thus preventing bullying," Melva explained.
As a Pahoa-affiliated school, Sedaya Bintang excels with a comprehensive curriculum that combines the National Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel, and the Singapore Framework for Mathematics. This curriculum combination ensures a solid academic foundation that meets international standards.
To support optimal language acquisition, Sedaya Bintang Integrated School implements trilingual learning involving native Mandarin-speaking teachers. As a newly operating educational institution, Sedaya Bintang offers a modern learning environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed to foster a quality teaching and learning process.
A safe school begins with children who grow up with strong character. Not only academically intelligent, but also possessing empathy, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. Character education is an important foundation for developing a superior generation ready to face the future.
For more than 50 years, Summarecon consistently supports the world of education by providing a healthy, inclusive, and sustainable learning environment as part of the commitment to building a resilient and caring community within a harmonious and sustainable living ecosystem.
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