Sanctions for Teacher Who Beat Students

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Students hold up banners on Thursday (13/2/2020) at SMAN 12 Bekasi state senior high school in Bekasi municipality, West Java. The group was defending a teacher who is accused of child abuse for hitting two students at the school, saying that the beating was a disciplinary action.

BEKASI, KOMPAS – A teacher identified by the initial “I.”, who was filmed beating two students at SMAN 12 state senior high school in Bekasi municipality, West Java, has been suspended and removed from his position as vice principal for student affairs. The teacher must also attend disciplinary training.

"The disciplinary sessions will be [under] the full authority of the West Java Education Agency," director of high school affairs Purwadi Sutanto said in Jakarta on Thursday (13/02/2020) at the Education and Culture Ministry.

The provincial education agency found that the teacher had abused students on several occasions in its preliminary assessment, which was submitted to the education ministry.

Speaking at the school in Bekasi, SMAN 12 Bekasi public relations vice principal Irnatiqoh said that the teacher who had hit the students was known to be temperamental and had been involved in several similar cases. The school had repeatedly reminded the teacher to improve their method of disciplining students. "The [teacher’s] intention is actually good, that is to improve [the students’] discipline. But the method is wrong," she said.

The teacher who committed the violence has also been punished.

The student beating occurred on Tuesday (11/2) and a video of the incident went viral. According to Irnatiqoh, the teacher was in charge of monitoring students who were tardy, totaling 172 tardy students.

"They were told to gather in the field for guidance. While the teacher was speaking, some students were talking in the back row. The [teacher] approached the students and hit them," said Irnatiqoh.

A 12th grader at SMAN 12 Bekasi, who declined to be named, said that the teacher involved in the incident was indeed temperamental and was feared among the students. The teacher was known to throw an eraser or book at students who were not paying attention in class.

Bekasi Municipal Police chief Sr. Comr. Wijonarko, who was contacted separately, said that no legal action had been taken against the teacher. The students’ parents and the school incident were discussing the incident.

"The teacher who committed the violence has also been punished," he said.

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

High school students hold up a banner on Thursday (13/2/2020) at SMAN 12 Bekasi in Bekasi municipality, West Java, in defense of a teacher accused of child abuse for hitting two students at the school. The banner reads, “We, the students of SMAN 12, love teachers who educate.”

Repeated violence

The Bekasi student beating shows that violence still occurred at schools. The incidents often involve a teacher beating a student or student brawls. Although such incidents frequently gain public attention and the perpetrators are punished, it remains a recurring problem.

Meanwhile, in Purworejo regency, Central Java, three male students have been named as suspects in a physical attack against a female student, CA, 16, at SMP Muhammadiyah junior high school in Butuh district. The three suspects are eighth grader UH, 14, a classmate of the victim, and senior classmates TP, 15, and DF, 15.

The medical report says that the victim was bruised in the abdomen and traumatized. The victim has maintained her silence through Thursday and has refused to give any information to the police.

Purworejo Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rizal Marito said that during questioning, the three suspects admitted that they were mad at the victim. "One of the suspects had asked the victim for money earlier, but was refused. The victim later reported [the incident] to the teacher, which angered the suspect," he said.

There are two suspects, [both] classmates of the victim.

The case came to light through a viral video showing the three male students assaulting a female student, which prompted public condemnation over the incident.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has communicated with all parties involved in the incident. Aside from starting legal procedures, he called for the three students to take counseling sessions, saying that counseling was the path to preventing similar incidents in the future.

Meanwhile, a report emerged in Malang, East Java, of seven junior high school students physically assaulting another student. The victim\'s middle finger had to be amputated as a result of the assault. The Malang Police have named two suspects in the case.

"There are two suspects, [both] classmates of the victim. It is not impossible that there will be other suspects," said Malang Police chief Sr. Comr. Leonardus Simarmata.

Positive discipline

Valentina Ginting, the assistant for protecting child from violence and exploitation at the Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, called on all schools to implement positive methods of student discipline to prevent child abuse.

Room for dialogue between teachers and students on all issues must also be opened. Families should also adopt a similar approach. A constructive approach could stop cases of violence by and against children, which were still rife.

"Prevention is the priority, by strengthening child protection systems starting at schools, homes and the [community]," Valentina said in Malang.