The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, has announced plans to establish a special task force in schools nationwide to combat the increasingly rampant issue of violence and bullying. This initiative comes in response to a tragic incident where a 13-year-old student, identified only as MH, from SMP Negeri 19 Tangerang Selatan, passed away, allegedly due to bullying by classmates.
Speaking to journalists at SMPN 4 Bekasi, West Java, on Monday, November 17, Mu’ti emphasized that this new team would operate with a more humanistic, comprehensive, and participative approach, involving all stakeholders in the education system. He elaborated, “We will form a team within schools with a more humanistic, comprehensive, and participative approach.”
The Minister further explained that the team would engage parents, students, and the wider community to prevent future occurrences of violence that have plagued schools. “This will involve parents, students, and also the community, so that the various forms of violence that have occurred so far, hopefully, will not be repeated in the future,” he added, underscoring a collective effort to foster safer learning environments.
However, Mu’ti admitted that he has not yet received a complete report from the police regarding the case in Tangerang Selatan. “I haven’t received the report yet, because it is currently being handled by the police. So, we haven’t received a complete report on the case in Tangerang Selatan City,” Mu’ti stated. He also mentioned learning about the case primarily through media reports, indicating that he is still awaiting the full official details.
The young victim, MH, tragically passed away at Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta on Sunday, November 16, after undergoing a week of intensive care for serious injuries sustained from the alleged assault within the school environment. Reports suggest that MH had been a victim of bullying by classmates since the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS). The alleged abuse escalated significantly on Monday, October 20, when the victim’s head was reportedly struck with an iron chair.
Rizki, MH’s elder brother, recounted how his sibling’s physical condition deteriorated drastically after the incident, leading to a state resembling paralysis where the seventh-grade student’s body could no longer move properly. “The worst part was being hit on the head with a chair. The victim only recounted everything when the situation had become severe. Previously, he never told us about other incidents, but this time he dared to speak because he was in severe pain,” Rizki revealed on Monday, November 10.
Rizki further explained that his younger brother was initially treated at a private hospital in Tangerang Selatan City. Due to his worsening condition, MH was subsequently referred to Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta for more specialized care. The Tangerang Selatan Police are actively investigating the incident, with Chief AKBP Victor Daniel Henry Inkiriwang confirming that six witnesses have already been questioned. “Six, six witnesses,” Victor stated during an interview at Polda Metro Jaya on Monday, November 17.
Victor also mentioned that the police are currently coordinating closely with the medical team treating MH to determine the precise cause of the teenager’s death. This crucial step aims to ascertain whether the death resulted from an underlying illness or was a direct consequence of blunt force trauma. “We are currently coordinating with the doctors handling the case,” Victor affirmed, highlighting the meticulous approach being taken to uncover the truth behind this deeply concerning event.
Summary
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, announced plans to establish a nationwide special task force in schools to address rising violence and bullying. This initiative follows the tragic death of 13-year-old MH from SMP Negeri 19 Tangerang Selatan, who allegedly died from bullying. The new team will adopt a humanistic, comprehensive, and participative approach, engaging parents, students, and the community to prevent future incidents.
MH passed away on November 16 after sustaining serious injuries, reportedly from being hit on the head with an iron chair by classmates on October 20. The victim’s condition severely deteriorated, leading to paralysis, and he only revealed the severe abuse due to intense pain. Tangerang Selatan Police are actively investigating the incident, having questioned six witnesses and coordinating with medical teams to ascertain the precise cause of death.