Repeated School Wall Collapses in Jakarta: JPPI Says No Longer Safe for Children

National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), Ubaid Matraji, assesses that the condition of school infrastructure in Jakarta no longer guarantees the safety of students. This statement comes in the wake of the collapse of the rear wall of State Elementary School (SDN) 08 Tebet Barat, South Jakarta, on Monday night (4/5/2026), adding to a long list of similar incidents in the capital. “Schools should be the safest place for children, but today in Jakarta, schools are transforming into places that threaten their lives,” said Ubaid Matraji when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026). He called on the government not to wait for loss of life before taking action. “Don’t wait for casualties before the government responds seriously,” he said. He also highlighted extreme weather factors that cannot be used as justification for building damage. “Heavy rain is a routine natural phenomenon in Jakarta, so it certainly cannot be used as an excuse for the wall collapse,” stated Ubaid. Several cases of school wall collapses in Jakarta show a recurring pattern. Ubaid assesses that this condition indicates the need for improved school building standards, including stricter implementation of Functional Worthiness Certificates (SLF) amid increasing risks of extreme weather. “We demand a total audit of school buildings because child safety must be prioritised. Don’t just do field inspections or make sweet promises of repairs that only appear after disasters occur,” said Ubaid.