Chairman of Commission X of the DPR Urges Cases of Bullying Not to be Concealed Under the Pretext of Protecting Reputation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Agung Widyantoro, has called on all educational institutions not to cover up incidents of bullying in their environments under the pretense of maintaining their reputation.

He emphasized that every report should be taken seriously and that protecting victims must be a priority.

"Therefore, every report must be handled seriously and should not be concealed to protect the institution's reputation," Agung stated during a seminar and public discussion organized by Kosgoro 1957 at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Monday (26/10/2026).

Agung also criticized the tendency of educational institutions to respond only after bullying cases receive public attention or go viral on social media.

According to him, schools need to strengthen oversight, provide complaint channels, and ensure that handling procedures and evaluations are effective.

"It is not enough for schools to respond only after incidents occur. Educational leaders must ensure that oversight systems, complaint channels, handling procedures, and regular evaluations are functioning effectively," Agung said.

He noted that the prevalence of bullying from elementary school to university level highlights the urgent need for serious handling and enhanced preventive measures.

"The rampant cases of bullying in educational settings, from elementary schools to universities, indicate that this issue can no longer be tolerated. The government must act swiftly," Agung urged.

He also encouraged evaluations of leadership and governance related to bullying handling in schools to prevent neglect and the perception that bullying is a normal part of student interactions.

Agung pointed out the implementation of the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation Number 6 of 2026 regarding Safe and Comfortable School Culture.

He believes this regulation has good intentions, but its implementation needs to be evaluated to ensure consistency and support through measurable oversight.

"In public policy, there are often dynamics or biases in implementation. Therefore, oversight and evaluation must be carried out collaboratively, not only by the government but also by educational institutions, law enforcement, and parents," he said.

Agung reminded that bullying can negatively impact victims' psychological conditions, sense of security, self-confidence, and social relationships.

In fact, victims may risk losing the courage to return to school out of fear of experiencing similar treatment.

Thus, Agung believes that strengthening character education and creating a safe school culture must go hand in hand with proper oversight and serious handling of reports.

"So that the protection of victims remains a priority," Agung concluded.