Child's death throws spotlight on bullying in Indonesian schools

JAKARTA - A junior high school student in Central Java has died after allegedly being assaulted by his classmates, once again highlighting the government’s failure to address bullying and violence in Indonesia’s schools.

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Twelve-year-old Angga Bagus Perwira was found dead in his classroom at SMPN 1 Geyer Junior High School, Grobogan, Central Java, on Oct 11.

According to his classmates, Angga had been involved in two separate altercations with peers earlier that day, before experiencing seizures and ultimately dying.

His grandfather Pujiyo said that an autopsy revealed multiple injuries, particularly to Angga’s head. On Oct 12, Kompas.com quoted him as saying: “Forensic doctors found a concussion on both sides of his head, a blood clot in his brain and a fracture at the base of his neck,”

Angga, the older of two siblings, had been raised by his grandparents since childhood.

According to Mr Pujiyo, Angga had repeatedly complained about being physically and verbally bullied by his classmates in the weeks leading up to his death.

“Before the incident, Angga had fallen ill due to the constant mocking and physical abuse he faced at school,” Mr Pujiyo said.

“At one point, he was too afraid to attend classes. He only agreed to go back after we reported the bullying to the school.”

Despite the complaint, however, Mr Pujiyo said the school failed to take meaningful action and properly monitor the situation, allowing the bullying to continue.