Expert Provides Essential Education to Prevent Child Abduction at School Gates
Reports of a suspected child abduction modus operandi near school gates have been circulating via posts on the social media platform Threads. Perpetrators are allegedly attempting to surreptitiously observe children’s names in books or bags to pretend they are authorised to collect them.
In light of such situations, vigilance regarding child safety must be increased. The Head of the Centre for Gender and Child Studies (PKGA) at IPB University, Dr Yulina Eva Riany, stated that school gates are critical points in child protection as they serve as meeting points for children, parents, guardians, and others, particularly during school dismissal hours. Parents and schools need to establish multi-layered supervision systems. This can be achieved by tightening pick-up procedures, ensuring any changes in guardians are confirmed, and designating safe areas for children who have not yet been collected.
“If suspicious approaches occur, the school must record and investigate the incident, contact parents, and report to the authorities if a threat is identified,” Dr Yulina said in a written statement, quoted on Tuesday (6/10/2026).
In addition to tightening supervision, parents need to equip children with specific understanding regarding personal boundaries, body safety, and privacy from an early age. Someone who knows a child’s name is not necessarily someone authorised to pick them up or take them away.
Children need to know which personal information must be protected, such as their full name, address, parents’ names, telephone numbers, class, and their school schedule and route home. “This education can be conducted through simulations or role-playing so that children become accustomed to handling situations where an unknown person asks for personal information,” she said.
Dr Yulina also reminded that educating children should not involve instilling a fear of all strangers. Children should be taught to recognise unsafe behaviours and situations, rather than simply judging someone by their appearance.
“Children are permitted to refuse invitations, gifts, or requests to go with someone without the permission of parents or teachers, even if that person appears friendly or claims to know the family,” said Dr Yulina.
Other essential skills, according to her, include the ability to say “no”, maintaining distance, seeking help, and reporting incidents to trusted adults. Children also need to know safe places and people to approach for assistance, such as teachers, security guards, or school staff.
“Children do not need to first verify whether someone has bad intentions. If there is an invitation to leave, a change in pick-up plans, a request to keep something secret from parents, or any action that makes them uncomfortable, the child should immediately return to a teacher or school official,” Dr Yulina added.