Puan: Every Indonesian Child Deserves a Proper Education

House Speaker Puan Maharani has stressed that every Indonesian child has an equal right to grow up in a safe space and emphasised the importance of protecting children from bullying in commemoration of National Children’s Day (HAN) 2026. She stated that the occasion must serve as a reminder that the nation’s future is being shaped through the lives of millions of Indonesian children today. “All Indonesian children have the right to grow up healthy, receive a proper education, live in a safe environment, and develop their best potential without being limited by their family’s economic conditions or their place of birth,” Puan said in Jakarta on Thursday, 23 July 2026. She noted that various challenges still faced by Indonesian children, ranging from stunting, school dropouts, violence against children, early marriage, child exploitation, bullying, to threats in the digital space, show that many children have yet to fully enjoy their rights. “These issues cannot be viewed as problems of individual sectors, but rather as a measure of how far the state is present to protect the nation’s future generation,” she said. Puan specifically highlighted the issue of bullying, which is still widely found in Indonesia, from school and social environments to the digital realm, whether verbal or psychological. She noted that bullying often causes serious impacts, such as a recent incident in Padang where a school student made and detonated a homemade bomb out of frustration after being bullied by peers for a prolonged period. “Therefore, the problem of bullying must be treated as a serious issue in child development. It is our shared duty and responsibility to address it immediately,” she said. Consequently, she believes the government and educational units need to create specific strategies or programmes to eradicate bullying in school environments. Additionally, a special approach is needed to create safe spaces in the digital realm for children. “Because sometimes words via social media, chats, and images sent are more painful for children who are victims of bullying. Appropriate steps are needed because bullying against children in the digital space is more personal in nature,” she said.