She warned that a negative school environment could have long-lasting consequences for children.
"Bullying is a serious issue for our children, who are our main hope for the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision," Fizzanty said during a TVRI talk show on Tuesday.
She emphasized the importance of creating a school environment that is not only comfortable but also safe and friendly for children so they feel happy while participating in learning.
According to Fizzanty, bullying is aggressive behavior, psychological and/or physical, that is usually carried out repeatedly by a perpetrator toward a victim.
It often stems from unequal social relationships, she said.
She added that children who become bullies may be influenced by family dynamics where they receive similar treatment.
Bullying can also stem from school environments where children view their peers as inferior to them.
To prevent bullying, Fizzanty stressed the importance of inclusive education so children understand that social, economic, and physical diversity is a part of the world they must face.
Additionally, character education needs to be deeply internalized so that students can apply the values of Pancasila, the philosophical foundation of the state, in their daily lives.
"We must identify the root causes of bullying, rather than simply blaming the child. This will enable us to develop effective solutions," she said.
To handle bullies with higher power than the victims, such as teachers and lecturers, Fizzanty emphasized the importance of building awareness about the code of professional ethics. There also needs to be punishment or sanctions to provide a deterrent effect on adult perpetrators.
She warned that victims of bullying experience psychological impacts, ranging from feelings of inferiority to feeling useless, which should not be underestimated.
Bullying is one of the forms of violence listed in the Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Number 46 of 2023.
Regarding prevention and handling, the regulation also mandates the formation of a task force for the prevention and handling of violence (TPPK) in educational units.
Therefore, Fizzanty emphasized that all stakeholders, including schools, teachers, parents, and students, must understand and implement the regulation to prevent and address bullying.
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Translator: Rizka Khaerunnisa, Aditya E.S. Wicaksono
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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