National Children's Day 2026, House of Representatives Chairperson Puan Maharani asks the government to arrange special strategies to overcome child bullying

The importance of daily routines for children (Image pressfoto-Magnific)

JAKARTA - The Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, asked the government and schools to formulate special strategies to suppress bullying against children. The insistence came after at least 233 cases of violence in the education environment were recorded in the first three months of 2026.

"Indonesian children must be free from bullying practices, whether verbal, psychological, physical, or in the digital space," said Puan in commemorating National Children's Day, Thursday, July 23.

Data from the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network recorded 233 cases of violence in the education environment from January to March 2026. Bullying can also trigger psychological trauma, dropping out of school, and dangerous actions.

Puan referred to a case of a student in Padang who made and detonated an improvised bomb after claiming to have long been a victim of bullying.

"Bullying issues must be placed as a serious issue in children's growth and development," he said.

According to Puan, the handling was not enough after the case occurred. The government and educational units need to have prevention programs, complaint mechanisms, victim protection, and handling of perpetrators.

Special attention is also needed for digital bullying. Messages, images, and comments on social media can spread quickly and continue to haunt victims.

"Proper steps are needed because bullying against children in the digital space is more personal," said Puan.

He assessed that child protection must be a measure of development success, not just economic growth, infrastructure development, or increased investment.

The size can be seen from the decline in school dropout rates, stunting, violence against children, early marriage, and exploitation. Access to education, health, play spaces, and a safe internet must also be expanded.

Puan asked the central and regional governments to prevent the gap in opportunities between children in cities and villages, western and eastern regions of Indonesia, and families who are able and unable.

"The state must be present not only when children face problems, but from the beginning through policies that strengthen families, guarantee basic services, and create a safe environment," he said.

The DPR, said Puan, will use the functions of legislation, budgeting, and oversight to monitor education, health, social protection, and child protection policies.

He also emphasized the role of the family as the first place for children to gain a sense of security and support. This protection must be strengthened through rules, state services, and social environments.

"Every child is valuable, entitled to good growth and development support, deserves to be happy, and must be protected," said Puan.