Child Rights Chief Urges Pamulang School Dispute Not to Harm Students’ Education

The head of Indonesia’s Child Protection Commission, Aris Adi Leksono, has warned that a dispute involving SD/TK Islam Pembangunan Pamulang in South Tangerang must not come at the expense of students’ education.

“Students’ sense of safety and comfort while learning must be the priority. Children must not become afraid to come to school,” Aris said in a statement on Friday, September 4.

Aris visited the school with KPAI Commissioner Kawiyan and spoke with first- and sixth-grade students in separate classrooms. Some children said they felt sad after having to study at home. Others said they were afraid, while some were happy to return to school after studying online on August 24.

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Students’ sense of safety and comfort while learning must be the priority. Children must not become afraid to come to school.

Aris said the school, as the body responsible for education, must protect its students and coordinate with parents and the foundation. He stressed that the institutional dispute should remain separate from classroom learning.

“Conflict must not be brought into children’s learning spaces, because it can have major psychological effects and potentially disrupt their growth and development,” he said. Aris urged the dispute to be resolved promptly through a fair legal process and asked the governor and mayor to closely oversee it. He also called on relevant agencies to assess affected children, provide psychological first aid and counseling, and support their recovery.

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Conflict must not be brought into children’s learning spaces, because it can have major psychological effects and potentially disrupt their growth and development.