Arya News - Both the regency and provincial administrations will fund the program, which will target students who "are difficult to discipline", engage in "risky behaviors" or are suspected of being involved in criminal activities.
JAKARTA – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has unveiled a controversial plan to send “delinquent” students from across the province to military barracks for a six-month training program aimed at instilling “discipline and responsibility” through intensive character education.
Dedi said the program will be rolled out in stages starting on May 2 and the Indonesian Military (TNI) has prepared some 30 to 40 barracks to support the initiative.
“It doesn’t need to be implemented across all 27 regencies and cities in West Java right away. We’re starting with the regions that are most vulnerable and ready for the program, and will expand gradually from there,” Dedi explained over the weekend, as reported by Kompas.
Both the regency and provincial administrations will fund the program, which will target students who “are difficult to discipline”, engage in “risky behaviors” or are suspected of being involved in criminal activities.
Dedi also mentioned that military personnel will go directly to the students’ homes to pick them up, and during the six-month training, the students will be exempt from formal schooling.
“We hope this character education program will help reform the behavior of these [troubled] students and improve their discipline and responsibility,” Dedi said. He added that authorities will seek permission from both the students’ schools and their parents before enrolling them in the training.
Lalu Harian Irfany, Deputy Chair of House of Representatives Commission X overseeing education, culture and youth, expressed that the six-month military camp should be implemented without compromising students’ right to receive a formal education.
“While this program may improve students’ discipline and character, it should not be carried out at the expense of their right to a comprehensive education that aims to nurture their full potential,” he said.
He added that a thorough study and dialogue with multiple stakeholders, including the central government, educators and the public, is necessary before implementing the program.
“Especially considering that military training may divert students’ focus from their formal education and might not align with the primary goals of our education system, which are to enhance academic performance and life skills,” he said.
Lalu added that several subjects taught in schools, such as civics, already cover topics related to improving youth discipline, nationalism and readiness to defend the country. The Defense Ministry has also offered voluntary national defense training to the public for years.
He emphasized that character and nationalism education for the youth should complement the existing curriculum and be tailored to meet the needs of the national education system.
“The concept of national defense education for students should focus on fostering nationalism, love for the homeland and preparing them mentally and spiritually to defend the country, not through physical military training,” he said.
Last month, Dedi also announced plans to introduce mandatory military education in senior high schools across West Java, which is scheduled to start in the new academic year in July.
“Each school will have an instructor from the TNI or the National Police tasked with strengthening student character and identifying their talents, including those interested in pursuing careers in the military or police,” he said at the time.
Dedi explained that the goal of introducing military education is to foster a strong sense of national defense and discipline among students. It also seeks to help students concentrate on their studies and avoid what he described as “useless activities.”
He also expressed confidence that the presence of military and police personnel in schools would deter students from engaging in brawls and other delinquent behaviors.
Dedi’s proposal came amid growing concerns over military overreach in civilian affairs following the controversial amendment to the TNI Law last month — including military involvement in the education sector.
The (TNI) has recently faced criticism after several of its officials showed up uninvited at student discussions on university campuses—a move that student unions and human rights groups have condemned as a form of intimidation and a “clear threat to academic freedom.” ( nal )