DIY Education Agency Issues Circular After Viral Discrimination Claims at State High Schools

The Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) Education, Youth, and Sports Agency (Disdikpora) has issued a circular following the circulation of reports alleging religious discrimination at a state high school in Jogja. In the circular, Disdikpora DIY instructs schools to ensure the fulfilment of students’ rights to religious education services.

Circular Number B/400.3/20792/D14 was issued after reports of religious discrimination at a state high school in Jogja went viral. The circular, signed by Acting Head of Disdikpora DIY Muhammad Setiadi, is addressed to the heads of all state high schools, vocational schools, and special needs schools across the DIY region.

The circular stresses that schools must provide a sense of safety, comfort, and respect for the dignity of every student. Disdikpora DIY also requires schools to guarantee religious education services in accordance with the student’s own faith.

‘Educational institutions are shared spaces that must provide a sense of safety, comfort, and respect for the dignity of every student,’ the circular stated, as quoted from the official DIY Regional Government website on Wednesday (29/7).

The circular further stipulates that schools must ensure no policies or treatment hinder the fulfilment of students’ rights due to differences in religion, belief, ethnicity, culture, gender, socio-economic conditions, or other backgrounds. It also emphasised that a lack of space or facilities cannot be used as a reason to provide different religious education services to students.

Previously, a narrative claiming that students of a certain religion experienced discrimination at a high school in Jogja went viral on social media. The narrative, which did not name the school or the sender, described how students of a particular faith who used the library and then a meeting/guest room were forced to leave whenever there were guests or teacher meetings.

The Head of the High School Development Division at Disdikpora DIY, Tukiman, stated that the agency moved quickly once the narrative went viral. He coordinated with the heads of secondary education branches across the regencies and cities in DIY and with all school principals, particularly in the city, to verify the claims. Tukiman reported that all schools confirmed they had already prepared facilities and rooms for religious education for both Islamic and non-Islamic students.