Kemendikdasmen Prepares 'Bintang Sobat SMP' Peer Influencers in Schools

The Directorate of Junior Secondary Schools at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is once again presenting the 2026 Bintang Sobat SMP (BSS) Programme to produce peer influencers capable of encouraging their peers towards positive behaviour, both within the school environment and in the digital ecosystem. This initiative is in line with Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on Governance of Electronic System Operations in Child Protection (PP TUNAS) and Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Regulation Number 9 of 2026, which emphasise the importance of creating a safe digital space for children. Director of Junior Secondary Schools at Kemendikdasmen, Maulani Mega Hapsari, stated in a written release in Jakarta on Wednesday that participant enthusiasm this year was very high. She noted that 3,896 students from 38 provinces took part in the selection process, which was conducted through administrative checks, video curation, and online interviews. All BSS 2026 finalists are currently attending the peak appreciation event for Bintang Sobat SMP 2026, held from 7 to 10 July. “The presence of these 76 remarkable children in this room is clear evidence of Indonesia’s bright future. They are portraits of children who refuse to become victims of the times, but instead choose to be pioneers of goodness in their surroundings,” said Maulani. The finalists are participating in a Nusantara Cultural Parade, capacity building, a BSS championship, talent validation, and educational visits to the National Monument, the Kemendikdasmen office, and the State Palace. Expert Staff to the Minister for Regulation and Inter-Institutional Relations at Kemendikdasmen, Biyanto, explained that Bintang Sobat SMP has three main objectives: to present role models among students, to build a healthy information ecosystem, and to strengthen a safe and comfortable school culture. Through Bintang Sobat SMP 2026, Kemendikdasmen aims to ensure that students are not just technology users, but also drivers of a healthy digital culture. By making peers into role models, the ministry hopes to expand safe, comfortable, and inclusive learning spaces, as well as a digital ecosystem that supports the development of Indonesian children.