PANGKALPINANG — Bullying during the new school orientation period is back in focus. The Bangka Belitung Provincial Education Office has taken a concrete step: forming a special Anti-Bullying Task Force to protect thousands of new students during the 2026 School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS).
The move is not just an appeal. The task force will go into the field to monitor and handle bullying cases—physical, verbal, and cyber—at every school across Babel. The goal is clear: a friendly MPLS this year, free from terror by seniors or rogue teachers.
“We want MPLS to be implemented fully in line with the applicable rules and boundaries,” said acting head of the Babel Provincial Education Office Saipul Bakhri when met in Pangkalpinang on Wednesday last week.
Minister’s Directive Triggers Move
The formation of the task force follows direct instructions from Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti. During a visit to Pangkalpinang some time ago, the minister stressed to all education offices and schools in Babel that MPLS 2026 must involve positive activities—such as talent and interest mapping and character education strengthening outreach—not hidden acts of violence.
“He stressed that MPLS must be friendly. Positive activities such as identifying students’ talents and interests, as well as outreach to strengthen character education for new students, are the priority,” Saipul Bakhri said.
A Real Problem on the Ground
The reason for forming the task force is simple but urgent: bullying during MPLS remains a serious problem. Senior students have often been the trigger for bullying, physical violence, mental attacks, and even cyberbullying against new students.
The Education Office did not disclose exact data on the prevalence of bullying in Babel schools, but empirical experience shows a consistent pattern: seniors use their position to intimidate juniors, both in traditional settings and through social media. Trauma from bullying can last a long time and disrupt the learning process.
The newly formed Anti-Bullying Task Force is expected to break that chain. The team will have the authority to follow up on every report, identify perpetrators, and protect victims from the start of the MPLS period.
Schools Face Sanctions
To ensure compliance, the Education Office has set firm consequences. “If bullying occurs, we will impose sanctions on those schools,” Saipul Bakhri said.
The form of the sanctions has not been explained in detail, but the warning is meant to pressure principals and teachers to closely supervise MPLS. In Indonesia’s education system, administrative sanctions against schools—from a drop in accreditation to cuts in operational funding—are considered effective in encouraging compliance.
Saipul Bakhri’s hope is simple but ambitious: “Hopefully there will be no violence or bullying during this year’s MPLS.”
Task Force Scope: Three Forms of Bullying
The task force is designed to cover a broad spectrum of bullying. Physical bullying—punches, kicks, or direct violence—is the most visible. Verbal bullying—insults, humiliation, mockery—is often underestimated even though it leaves psychological wounds. Cyberbullying—mean jokes on WhatsApp, embarrassing videos on TikTok, hurtful comments on Instagram—is now a hidden threat that is hard to detect without special vigilance.
With these three focuses, the task force is expected not to miss anything. However, its effectiveness will depend on students’ willingness to report cases and their trust that the task force will act without worsening the victim’s condition.
Outlook: First Test
The effectiveness of the Anti-Bullying Task Force will become clear when MPLS 2026 begins. The first week is a critical period—when seniors and teachers interact intensively with juniors in an environment that is not yet fully structured. If the task force succeeds in preventing major incidents and responds quickly to reports, the model could become a template for education offices in other provinces. On the other hand, if reports remain high or the task force is seen as slow to act, Babel’s Education Office will be pressed to evaluate and adjust within the first 7-14 days of MPLS.
The commitment from the minister and the structured design of the task force offer hope. But the real challenge lies in implementation: does the task force have enough staff, adequate training, and full support from school principals to make MPLS truly friendly?
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