DIY Regional Government Asserts Schools Must Be Safe and Comfortable Spaces for Students

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Department of Education, Youth, and Sports (Disdikpora) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has asserted that every school must serve as a safe and comfortable space for both students and learners within the educational unit.

“Therefore, every report regarding actions that have the potential to disrupt the safety, comfort, and development of students must be handled seriously,” stated the Head of Disdiklar DIY, Raden Suci Rohmadi, in Yogyakarta on Friday.

According to him, this includes allegations of intimidation against a student who uploaded content to social media regarding alleged inappropriate conduct by a security guard at a State Senior High School in Kulon Progo Regency, which is currently under investigation.

He admitted to having received reports from the school and the Secondary Education Office to clarify the alleged intimidation; however, the department is also ensuring that follow-up actions regarding the security guard are part of the case handling.

“The individual has already been sanctioned by the vendor. We will follow up later to see whether they have indeed been dismissed or otherwise,” he said.

He noted that, as the situation develops, the security guard is no longer on duty at the State Senior High School. Based on school reports, the security guard in question ceased duty as of 18 September 2024.

According to him, there are two elements to the incident: the alleged inappropriate conduct towards the high school student, which was admitted by the security guard and has been addressed, and the alleged intimidation of the student who uploaded the security guard’s behaviour to social media.

Nevertheless, regarding the alleged intimidation of the student who posted the poster, Disdikpora has not yet been able to conclude whether intimidation truly occurred, including regarding the creation of a clarification video which is said to have involved the student.

“I am still investigating whether there was any intimidation against the student who made the post viral. Tomorrow, I will summon the school principal along with the Kulon Progo Secondary Education Office to provide testimony. Although the reports do not mention intimidation,” he said.

Disdikpora DIY will continue to conduct clarifications to ensure the entire sequence of events is based on facts and statements from relevant parties, even though the school has never issued a statement regarding intimidation or the expulsion of the student who posted the poster.

“Whether the creation of that video was actually requested, or if they were intimidated into making a clarification video or not, is something we will conclude later,” he said.