Minister Calls for MPLS at Sekolah Rakyat to Be Free of Hazing

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, has called on all Sekolah Rakyat organisers to ensure the Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah (MPLS) takes place safely and comfortably, free from all forms of violence and bullying. According to Gus Ipul, the MPLS must be a space that supports students’ adaptation to a new learning environment, including for those who previously studied at pilot Sekolah Rakyat and are now moving to permanent ones. ‘Ensure they are safe and comfortable, no hazing, no acts of violence, nothing that tarnishes the MPLS,’ he said in Jakarta on Tuesday. He considers the early school period a crucial time requiring attention from all teaching staff so students can adjust to the new environment, friends, and learning systems. ‘This is a time when we must have the ability to adapt to new situations and conditions, for the students, the residents, and also for other educational staff,’ he explained. Gus Ipul therefore asked school principals, teachers, and all educational staff to provide maximum assistance by prioritising empathy. This effort is expected to make students feel comfortable and settled while studying at Sekolah Rakyat. ‘Strengthen them, accompany them with full empathy, and for that, ladies and gentlemen, I hope we succeed in creating conditions where they feel at home in Sekolah Rakyat,’ he said. Beyond the psychological aspect, Gus Ipul also stressed the importance of ensuring all student needs are met. He asked school administrators to learn from the previous year’s experience, particularly during the first two months, which are considered the most challenging phase. ‘Learning from last year, there were many challenges. Some felt uncomfortable, some missed their parents, face all of that well. They will become children who can follow the lessons properly,’ he added. In his directives, Gus Ipul also reminded staff to take good care of the permanent Sekolah Rakyat facilities. He stated that the buildings and infrastructure were built as a form of the state’s support for people in need. ‘So take good care of them because they were built with the people’s money. And it is a gift from President Prabowo for the most underprivileged families,’ he said. He also invited all Sekolah Rakyat principals to build a culture of discipline gradually, in a planned and consistent manner. One of the initial steps emphasised was maintaining the cleanliness of the school environment as part of character education that can be felt from day one. A total of 101 Sekolah Rakyat are scheduled to hold MPLS in stages across four waves. A total of 19 permanent Sekolah Rakyat will begin MPLS on 14 July, followed by 63 permanent schools on 31 July, eight pilot schools in the Greater Jakarta area on 15 August, and 11 permanent schools in the final wave starting 31 August.