Improve the Education System in Official Schools

Repeated cases of violence at service colleges should be a lesson for stakeholders.

HUMAS POLRES METRO JAKARTA UTARA

undefined

Violence at service colleges which continues to be repeated has not been adequately responded to with evaluation. There is a need to overhaul the education system as a whole.

There is no official data on cases of violence at official universities, but from year to year there are always reports of cases of violence at universities under the auspices of these ministries/institutions, some of which even result in death. The latest case occurred at the Maritime Science College (STIP) Jakarta which resulted in the death of a student/cadet (Kompas, 6/5/2024).

Also read: Violence Leads to Death Recurred, STIP Evaluated

Also read: Tough to become a suspect in persecuting Satria until he died at STIP

Like the case at STIP, other cases generally occur in service colleges that implement semi-military education. However, instead of forming a mentality and fostering discipline, this education system often fosters a tradition of violence on campus. This tradition is increasingly fertile with the pattern of coaching by seniors.

Under the pretext of enforcing discipline, senior students have the right to punish junior students. In practice, the punishment applied is in the form of physical punishment, be it beatings or other forms of physical violence. Unbalanced power relations resulting from a rigid and hierarchical seniority culture mean that there is no resistance when punishment is carried out. In fact, it is not uncommon for cases of violence to be "covered up" for the reason of the good name of the campus and is considered normal.

The evaluation and criminal sanctions against perpetrators when physical punishments result in death have not brought about any changes. Case by case, violence that leads to death continues to occur in government-funded universities. The case at STIP Jakarta is not the first time. Similar cases occurred in 2017 in government-funded universities under the Ministry of Transportation.

The recurring cases of violence that resulted in the death of STIP Jakarta remind us of similar cases at the Institute of Home Affairs (IPDN). Reports of violence, even leading to death, at IPDN (formerly known as the Institute of Domestic Government) have been featured in the mass media several times.

Also read: STIP Cadet's Death, Anti-Violence Rules in Educational Institutions Need to Be Expanded

Based on the case that occurred in 2007, the Ministry of Home Affairs which oversees IPDN changed the management of student recruitment and removed the pattern of coaching by seniors (Kompas.id, 511/2021). However, this also has not brought significant changes. Cases of physical violence that resulted in death continued to occur at IPDN in 2008.

Every education system certainly aims for the good, including semi-military education that aims to foster discipline, nationalism, and leadership character. The question is, has the implementation of this education system in government universities been in line with those objectives?

Cases of violence in government-affiliated universities are too many. The incidents that have occurred have yet to provide any lessons for stakeholders involved. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive improvement of the education system in government-affiliated higher education institutions.