Need A Big Political Will From The Government To Handle Cases Of Violence In The Educational Environment

The National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) Ubaid Matraji (secondly right) in public discussion activities related to violence in educational units, which was held in Jakarta, Friday (12/27/2024). (ANTARA/Sean Filoso Muhamad/pri)

JAKARTA Violence in schools is still one of the serious problems in the world of education. In the last four years alone, the trend of violence in the world of education has always increased.

The Indonesian world of education is often colored by unpleasant news. Starting from curriculum problems, the new student admission system that becomes a polemic, to high education costs.

Another thing that almost always colors the news of the mass media in the country is how the world of education is often tarnished by acts of violence in the school environment.

The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) noted that the trend of violence in the world of education continues to increase from year to year.

JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji said, in an effort to prevent violence in schools, collaborations from various parties in efforts to prevent violence in schools. This, he said, began with political push from the government, from the center to the education offices.

"There are central governments, madrasas, Islamic boarding schools, the Ministry of Religion, and the Ministry of Education who must work together. This must be part of the national agenda," he said.

Recently, there was a case of bullying at SMAN 70 Jakarta involving five grade 12 students against a grade 10 student with the initials ABF. The head of SMAN 70 Jakarta, Sunaryo, stated that his party had removed the five people, but it was not yet known where they were being moved.

There is also a case of bullying of a student who is still in grade 3 of elementary school (SD) carried out by three of his classmates at a private school in Yogyakarta.

The two incidents were only a few of the many cases of violence that occurred in educational circles throughout 2024. This can be seen from the data collected by JPPI for the past four years.

According to JPPI data received by VOI, in 2020, there were 91 cases of violence in the world of education, then it rose to 142 cases in 2021, 194 cases in 2022, 285 cases in 2023 and a major spike this year to 473 cases.

Compared to previous years, the number of cases of violence experienced a sharp spike in 2024. The data shows an increase in cases of violence in the educational environment by more than 100 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. Or in other words, it means that there is at least one case of violence every day.

"If in 2024 there are 366 days, while the number of cases reaches 573, at least one day one case of violence is found in educational institutions," said Ubaid.

Another thing that is of concern in the release of this data is that East Java is the area with the highest number of cases of violence in Indonesia with 14.2 percent or 81 cases. Reported cases include sexual violence and bullying.

Other areas that also have the most cases of violence are West Java (9.8 percent). Central Java (7.8 percent), Banten (5.4 percent), and Jakarta (4.9 percent).

"Almost all provinces in Indonesia have occurred, almost all schools in the province in Indonesia have occurred, but we have the highest number in East Java, there are 81 cases," said Ubaid.

There is no definite reason yet about the cause of the high number of cases of violence in East Java. However, according to Ubaid, the high number of cases of violence in East Java is likely because the number of schools in the area is higher than other provinces.

"But it's a concern, it turns out that Java. East Java, West Java, Central Java, Banten, Jakarta are all Javanese, there are many cases of violence in Java," said Ubaid again.

Cases of violence can actually occur anywhere, both inside schools and outside schools. However, the most vulnerable places are in schools. According to JPP records, the crime scene (TKP) inside schools reached 58 percent, while incidents outside schools were 27 percent.

In addition, cases of violence also do not only occur in public schools, but also in madrasas and Islamic boarding schools. Even though boarding schools such as Islamic boarding schools should have 24-hour supervision.

As for the type, sexual violence and bullying are still major sins inherited from time to time in educational institutions. JPPI noted that sexual violence was in first place with 42 percent, followed by 31 percent bullying, 10 percent physical violence, 11 percent psychological violence, and six percent discriminatory policy.

Ironically, most of the perpetrators of violence in educational institutions throughout 2024 are teachers, at 43.9 percent. Meanwhile, 39.8 percent of the perpetrators are senior brothers, the community, and the environment outside of school. This finding is clearly a matter of concern, because teachers should be protectors in the school environment. According to Ubaid, teachers who become perpetrators of violence often occur because this method is considered part of discipline.

"And what is important is also strengthening the issue of teachers, how teachers often use violent methods as part of education, part of witnesses, and so on, but instead fall into the perpetrators of acts of violence," he said.

Although many teachers become perpetrators of school violence, not a few of them also often become victims. We of course often hear news about teachers being beaten by parents or criminalization of teachers who colored the world of education throughout this year. Teacher cases become victims of violence reached 10.2 percent.

For this reason, efforts to prevent violence in schools require collaboration between various parties, which begins with political push from the government, from the center to the education offices.

"There are central governments, madrasas, Islamic boarding schools, the Ministry of Religion, and the Ministry of Education who must work together. This must be part of the national agenda," he said.

Ubaid emphasized the importance of the role of agencies which have been considered not to understand the handling of violence. According to him, although the Task Force (Satgas) and the Violence Prevention and Response Team (TPPK) have been formed, many of them have not been trained or adequately accompanied. As a result, even though there are policies, implementation in the field is often hampered.

"After being suspended, the problem will just end. In fact, if there is no strong political will, this problem will never be solved," he said.