Mataram Students Frequently Skip Classes to Vape at Cafés

Students in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), are often seen hanging out at cafés during school hours while wearing their school uniforms. Some have also been seen using electronic cigarettes, or vapes.

The phenomenon has become a serious concern for Mataram’s Education Office. Its head, Yusuf, has asked each school to conduct regular checks of students’ belongings. If prohibited items are found, schools may impose sanctions in accordance with their rules and regulations.

The Education Office has called on all schools to tighten supervision of students’ activities. It also plans to convene the School Principals’ Working Group (MKKS) to discuss monitoring measures.

“We will gather the MKKS forum and ask them to supervise the students. We must not allow them to be outside their school grounds,” Mataram Education Office head Yusuf said when contacted on Thursday, 22 October 2026.

Yusuf said school rules and regulations in Mataram are set by each individual school. If students are found to have broken them, schools have been asked to apply the relevant disciplinary process. Schools may impose sanctions at levels one, two and three before referring the student back to their parents.