Deputy Minister Condemns Bomb Threat at South Jakarta Primary School, Orders Temporary Halt to Orientation

Jakarta, VIVA – Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen) Atip Latipulhayat has condemned a bomb threat at SDN Srengseng Sawah 15 Pagi in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, which occurred on the first day of the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS) on Monday, 13 July 2026.

Atip said the act undermined the sense of safety in an educational environment, which should be a comfortable place of learning for pupils and teachers.

“I deeply regret the perpetration of this act of terror, turning a school into a target of terror. This is an area that should be safeguarded together, and it is our shared responsibility to guarantee security and tranquillity in the teaching and learning process. We strongly condemn these irresponsible parties,” said Atip on Monday, 13 July 2026.

He has entrusted the handling of the suspected bomb threat entirely to law enforcement.

In addition, Atip has asked the school to temporarily suspend the MPLS until there is certainty that the school environment is genuinely safe.

“We leave this matter entirely to the authorities concerned. To the school, for the time being MPLS activities should be halted until there is a guarantee that the situation is truly safe,” he said.

Earlier, the first day of MPLS at SDN Srengseng Sawah 15 Pagi was called off after a suspected bomb threat emerged through a private message sent to one of the teachers.

The police subsequently evacuated all pupils and teachers from the school premises as a precautionary measure.

Jagakarsa Police Chief Commissioner Nurma Dewi said the MPLS was suspended after coordination with all relevant parties. Panic also briefly spread among parents.

“The MPLS has been called off; we have coordinated with all parties. Parents were panicking as well,” said Nurma.

She explained that the report of the suspected bomb threat was received by police at around 07:30 local time, while pupils and teachers were attending the MPLS opening ceremony. After news of the threat circulated among the teaching staff, the school immediately reported it to the police.