Bullying in Indonesian schools is a rising concern. Data from the National Educational Rapport in 2022 and 2023 reveals that more than 24% of students in Indonesia experienced various form of bullying. As a way to prevent and mitigate bullying, State Primary school (SDN) Tenggulunan in Sidoarjo, East Java, has made significant strides in combating this issue, in collaboration with INOVASI—an Australian-Indonesian Governments’ partnership in basic education— and Universitas Muhammadyah Sidoarjo (UMSIDA).
“Teachers can’t monitor students at all times, particularly during breaks,” says Findi Handoko, teacher in SDN Tenggulunan. While in fact, during break time, what should be a period of relaxation often turns into a nightmare for some students due to bullying. “We wanted to create a student-supporting-student movement through this Anti-Bullying Task Force that we established in 2023,“ he added, inspired by the school’s participation in the Gender Responsive School program initiated by UMSIDA and INOVASI.
The Task Force includes six dedicated students to monitor, record, and advise peers on bullying behaviour, and report their findings to teachers for further actions. The Task Force is hoped to mitigate, if not prevent, bullying from happening.
Parental involvement was crucial to the mission. Before launching the Task Force, the school consulted with parents to ensure their support. This collaboration helped build a strong, community-wide commitment to anti-bullying efforts.
“Many bullying incidents began as jokes but quickly escalated. My peers and I have successfully intervened, often stopping the bullying in its tracks,” shared Nadia, an 11-year-old Task Force member. A 12-year-old student, now a Task Force member, recalled how bullying used to plague his school life. “They would call my parents’ names as a way of mocking or being disrespectful,” he said. But with the new program, he feels safe and comfortable at school.
Violence and bullying are amongst the most aggressive behaviours among youth that are associated with increased risk of psychiatric disorders and educational outcomes. State Primary school Tenggulunan’s Anti-Bullying Task Force, coupled with child safeguarding policy enforcement, has not only reduced bullying but also fostered a more inclusive, supportive school culture.