West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi Guarantees Legal Protection for Teachers Against Criminalisation
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has affirmed his commitment to providing legal protection for teachers and schools to prevent the criminalisation of educators. The statement was made as a show of support for teachers who instil discipline in students within the school environment.
“I will be at the forefront of defending educators from criminalisation, because they are providing disciplinary guidance to students,” Dedi Mulyadi stressed on Thursday (18/6).
Beyond legal protection, the West Java Provincial Government is also focusing on the psychological welfare of teachers and head teachers. Dedi, familiarly known as KDM, has asked the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and the Inspectorate of West Java to strengthen the administrative advocacy function for head teachers. This measure aims to prevent head teachers from becoming entangled in administrative findings when exercising necessary discretion to improve school facilities.
“We must not have a situation where an idealistic head teacher improves school facilities independently, but then ends up having to sell personal assets to cover the burden of administrative reports. As long as the physical improvements exist and are used for the school’s benefit, the West Java Provincial Government will be present to provide a guarantee,” he asserted.
In the education access sector, the West Java Provincial Government is preparing a social assistance scheme this year for approximately 120,000 children who are not accommodated in state schools. The allocated scholarship budget ranges from Rp2.7 million to Rp3 million per student per year for those attending private schools, with a projected long-term requirement of Rp1.2 trillion.
However, this assistance comes with a commitment to behavioural change. Each scholarship recipient is required to set aside savings of at least Rp5,000 to Rp10,000 daily through a partnership with Bank BJB.
“Scholarship recipients must sign a commitment agreeing to save for their own future. This is part of character and spiritual education to transform a consumptive mindset into a productive one,” the Governor explained.
Through these policies, the West Java Provincial Government hopes to create clean and orderly school environments and to nurture a golden generation possessing the character traits of being healthy, well-mannered, righteous, intelligent, and creative.