Nine-Year-Old Boy in Gunungkidul Drops Out of School to Care for Ill Mother; Regency Government Enlists Hospital and National Zakat Board
A nine-year-old boy, identified as F, in Girisekar, Gunungkidul, has been forced to drop out of school to care for his mother, who is ill and paralysed. The Gunungkidul Regency Government has mobilised support from multiple parties, including hospitals and the National Zakat Board, to assist the boy and his family.
Gunungkidul Regent Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, along with relevant officials, visited F’s family home today. To help F, Endah stated that the regency is working with the National Zakat Board (Baznas) and Dr YAP Eye Hospital.
F has been out of school for three years to care for his mother, who suffers from stroke and eye nerve damage, leaving her unable to see or carry out daily activities. His father has also begun experiencing vision problems over the past year. The Gunungkidul Regency Government is ensuring F’s parents receive healthcare services. The Gunungkidul Health Office has coordinated to examine the health condition of F’s parents.
The Gunungkidul Regency Government also plans to work with Dr YAP Eye Hospital to explore medical intervention possibilities, such as cataract or glaucoma surgery, to restore F’s parents’ vision. “We received the lab results two days ago. Next, we will appeal to YAP Hospital,” Endah said in a written statement on Sunday (15 March 2025).
“F must not be asked or pressured whether he wants to return to school. The child will answer that if his parents’ security is guaranteed and someone is responsible for them,” she added.
It is noted that F has an older brother working away from home in the Sleman area and therefore unable to care for their parents. As a result, F has sacrificed his education to care for them.
To sustain F’s family, the Gunungkidul Regency Government is also working with Baznas to discuss business capital assistance for F’s older brother so he can work closer to home without having to migrate.
“The government also ensures that this family has received social assistance interventions, including PKH (conditional cash transfer), BPNT (food assistance), and BPJS (health insurance),” Endah said.
F’s second-oldest sibling, a girl identified as A, is currently studying at a state junior secondary school in Gunungkidul. The regency government also ensures that F and A can continue their education.
“For F’s educational matters, these will be handled by the Religious Affairs Ministry through a proper emotional approach, bearing in mind that F attends religious school (madrasah),” she said.
“Her sister’s education is the responsibility of the Education Office, since she attends state junior secondary school,” Endah added.
The story of F was previously posted on the Instagram account @pantaujogjakarta three days ago. The post about F’s difficult situation garnered widespread attention from netizens, receiving tens of thousands of likes and thousands of comments.
Endah expressed regret that such information must go viral to be noticed. She has called on all residents, from the neighbourhood level to village officials, to immediately report if they encounter similar situations in their communities.
“Cases like this should not be left for three years or even one month. It is our duty as believers to help one another,” Endah stated firmly.