Countering Device Addiction: Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Invites Families to Launch #OneQualityHourTogether Movement
Amid the growing dominance of devices and social media in the daily lives of children and adolescents, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is taking concrete action. Through its Character Strengthening Safari programme, the government is inviting parents to reclaim quality time at home through the #OneQualityHourTogether movement with family.
Masmidah Abdul Mu’ti, wife of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, emphasised that character formation is not solely the responsibility of schools, but begins with active family involvement. This effort is being realised through the Seven Habits of Great Indonesian Children movement.
“Through the Seven Habits of Great Indonesian Children movement, we want to build a generation that is not only intelligent, but also possesses strong character,” Masmidah stated in an official statement on Wednesday, 11 March.
The seven habits include fundamental practices: waking early, prayer, physical exercise, enthusiasm for learning, community engagement, healthy and nutritious eating, and sleeping on time. These simple habits are believed to form a vital foundation for the physical and mental health of future generations.
This movement is not without cause. Rusprita Putri Utami, head of the Character Strengthening Centre at Kemendikdasmen, presented alarming data regarding adolescent dependency on digital devices. “Approximately 31.4 per cent of teenagers in Jakarta experience internet addiction, 7 out of 10 teenage girls are addicted to social media, and 9 out of 10 teenage boys are addicted to online gaming,” she explained.
According to her, the role of families is central to counteracting these negative impacts. Parents are encouraged to set aside at least one hour daily without digital device interruption to engage in meaningful activities such as conversation, storytelling, or playing together.
During the safari activities held simultaneously in Banten, Central Sulawesi, and the Bangka Belitung Islands, storytelling became a major focus. In collaboration with Kampung Dongeng Indonesia (Indonesian Storytelling Village), children were invited to explore values of honesty and goodness through an enjoyable approach.
Masmidah appreciated parents who were directly involved in the storytelling sessions. According to her, two-way communication through storytelling is the key to harmonious relationships. “Closeness between parent and child through storytelling activities and good communication is the key to creating harmonious relationships within the family,” she noted.
Beyond storytelling, the event also featured screenings of a short film titled “The Seed of Honesty,” educational games based on local wisdom, and reflection through essay writing.
Through collaboration between schools, families, and communities, Kemendikdasmen hopes that Indonesia’s education ecosystem can produce a generation that is happy, feels loved, and possesses resilient character.