Violence in School Cannot Be Treated as a Prank

 

Tangerang Selatan, 17 November 2025 A shocking case at SMPN 19 Tangerang Selatan, where a 13-year-old student identified as MH was allegedly struck on the head with a metal chair by a classmate, has reignited public concern about the safety of Indonesia’s school environment. Schools should be places of growth and protection, yet this incident exposes how fragile that safety truly is.

What Happened

• The incident occurred inside a classroom and allegedly involved the use of a metal chair as a weapon.

• The student suffered a serious head injury, followed by complications such as impaired vision and physical weakness.

• The child was rushed to the hospital and is undergoing treatment with ongoing psychological concerns.

• The Komisi Perlindungan Anak Indonesia (KPAI) urged that the case be handled through a legal process rather than informal mediation.

Sources:
TangerangUpdate.com | Prudensi.com | AktualTangerang.com

Why This Matters

Schools should be safe zones for learning and growth. When a student is attacked inside the classroom, the institution meant to protect becomes the scene of violence. That shift signals a breakdown in supervision, culture, and policy.

The visible injury is just the beginning. Physical wounds may heal, but the emotional scars last far longer: fear of returning, damaged trust in peers and teachers, academic decline, and potential lifelong trauma.

Responsibility is collective. This isn’t just about the perpetrator and victim; it involves the school, teachers, parents, local education authorities, and policy makers. Each party holds a piece of the accountability.

What Must Be Done

For the School:

• Enforce clear anti-violence and anti-bullying protocols with zero tolerance for physical assault.

• Provide teacher training in early detection of conflict, establish accessible reporting mechanisms for students, and keep transparent records of incidents.

• Ensure follow-up support for victims, medical care, psychological counselling, academic assistance.

For Parents and Community:

• Be vigilant in noticing behavioural changes in children withdrawal, fear, changes in performance and act promptly.

• Foster an environment of open communication where children feel safe to report threats or incidents.

• Demand accountability from schools and local education boards protection of children is everyone’s mandate.

For Policymakers & Education Authorities:

• Move beyond policy documents: carry out regular audits of school safety measures, monitor compliance, allocate resources for mental health and rehabilitation of victims.

• Treat serious incidents as legal matters, not merely disciplinary ones. The call by KPAI for legal proceedings is a signal of the severity.

• Embed prevention in school culture: ensure that valuing empathy, respect, and non-violence is part of the curriculum and daily practice.

In Conclusion

This case at SMPN 19 Tangsel must serve as a wake-up call, not only to the institution involved, but to our entire education system. Violence in schools cannot be dismissed as “kids being kids.” Every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported in their learning environment. If we fail to act decisively now, the next victim will only underline the cost we’ve chosen to ignore.

It’s time to ensure schools are places of growth not of fear.