He raised the issue following the explosions that struck Public Senior High School (SMAN) 72 in North Jakarta last Friday (November 7).
“My message is for all of us to take care of one another, bolster sensitivity, and remind each other of the urgency to prevent the Jakarta SMAN incident from recurring,” Gibran said at the 2025 National Coordination Meeting on Stunting Alleviation Acceleration here on Wednesday.
The vice president emphasized that beyond nutritional and physical health needs, children and teenagers must also live in environments that support their psychological well-being.
“Schools must be a safe and comfortable place where our children can grow without the threat of bullying,” he stressed.
Bearing that in mind, Gibran called on teachers, parents, and communities to pay greater attention to children’s mental health and foster a violence-free environment to nurture a generation of healthy and capable youth.
He expressed hope that all schools nationwide will learn from the Jakarta incident and continue striving to become supportive spaces for students to learn, socialize, and grow both physically and mentally.
The Indonesian public has been alarmed by two blasts at SMAN 72 Jakarta, located within a navy housing complex, at around 12:15 p.m. local time during Friday prayer.
The explosions affected at least 96 people, some suffering from hearing and visual impairment, burns, and shrapnel injuries. Among the injured is a male student, identified by police as the alleged perpetrator.
Greater Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri said preliminary investigations revealed the suspect is a reclusive individual who rarely socializes and is exposed to online content displaying violence and extremism.
“We have searched the individual’s home and questioned 18 people, including his teachers, fellow students, and family members,” he stated in a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (November 11).
On Wednesday, Jakarta Police Spokesperson Grand Commissioner Budi Hermanto noted that despite the findings, the police cannot yet ascertain bullying as a contributing factor, as the suspect remains under recovery following surgery.
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Translator: Andi F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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