Most School Bullying Cases Occur in Elementary and Junior High Schools Through August 2023

Based on data compiled by the Indonesian Teachers' Union Federation (FSGI) and reported by *Republika*, 16 cases of bullying in schools were recorded between January and August 2023.

Most bullying cases in schools occurred in elementary schools (SD) and junior high schools (SMP), accounting for 25% of the total cases.

Bullying also occurred in senior high schools (SMA) and vocational high schools (SMK), each accounting for 18.75% of the total cases.

Meanwhile, cases in Madrasah Tsanawiyah (Islamic junior high schools) and Islamic boarding schools each accounted for 6.25%.

FSGI Secretary General Heru Purnomo stated that four bullying cases occurred in July 2023 alone.

One case involved 14 junior high school students in Cianjur Regency, West Java, who suffered physical violence for being late to school.

The physical violence, which included sunbathing and kicking, was perpetrated by their senior high school classmates.

In response, the FSGI Secretary General urged the Department of Education to immediately establish an anti-violence task force in schools.

"All Department of Education offices in regencies/cities are encouraged to implement Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology No. 82 of 2015 concerning the prevention and handling of violence in educational institutions, including by forming an anti-violence task force and opening online complaint channels," said Heru Purnomo in a statement reported by *Republika* on Friday (4/8/2023).

FSGI data also shows that the number of bullying victims in educational institutions during the first half of 2023 was 43. This comprised 41 students and two teachers.

The perpetrators were predominantly students (87), followed by educators (5), parents (1), and a madrasah principal (1).

(See also: [Public Condemns Assault, Here's the Trend of Cases in the Last Five Years in Indonesia])