Indonesia
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that in 2021, there were 188 villages/subdistricts across Indonesia where mass brawls among students occurred. West Java was the province with the highest number of student brawl incidents, occurring in 37 villages/subdistricts. Furthermore, according to channel9.id, student assaults and brawls have surged again following the resumption of in-person learning, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) noted that between 2016 and 2020, 655 children faced legal action for committing acts of violence. The breakdown shows that 506 children committed physical violence and 149 children committed psychological violence.
Another startling fact is that today, cases of violence are not only occurring between children but also involve children committing violence against teachers. KPAI reports that student violence against teachers accounts for 9.52 percent of cases.
Turning to drug-related cases, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) notes that of the 87 million children in Indonesia, 5.9 million are drug addicts.
Regarding child marriage, UNICEF, an international organization focused on children’s issues, reports that the prevalence of child marriage in Indonesia is quite high, reaching 1.2 million cases. Indonesian media also reported that based on data from religious courts regarding requests for marriage dispensations for minors, there were 65,000 cases recorded in 2021 and approximately 52,000 applications in 2022.
These snapshots demonstrate that the crisis of manners and character among Indonesia’s youth today is very real and distressing. Some time ago, we heard a story from a teacher who complained about the deterioration of children’s manners at school. He said that it is very rare to find students who show respect for their teachers. Whereas in the past, students were so obedient and respectful toward their teachers, today students behave as if their teachers were their own friends, with no specific ethical boundaries regarding how a student should interact with their teacher. It is painful to hear these facts.
Regarding issues related to the crisis of manners among children, we would like to point out that these issues cannot be addressed by relying solely on schools. This is because schools also have limitations in carrying out the educational process for students. School hours are relatively short, only about 6–8 hours a day. Meanwhile, children spend more time in their family and community environments. Schools also have only one teacher per class, making it difficult to give each child their full attention. Furthermore, schools cannot always control the environment outside of school, which can influence children’s behavior.
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In our view, families must also take the lead in addressing the issues related to children’s misbehavior in today’s world. Strengthening family education serves as an alternative and solution to these problems.
Family education is a learning process carried out by parents to educate and guide their children. Family education is the first and primary education children receive, and it has a profound influence on their development, including in shaping their manners.
There are several reasons why family education is the most effective approach to shaping children’s manners. First, family education occurs naturally and continuously. Children spend most of their time at home with their parents, so parents have greater opportunities to teach them good manners.
Second, family education is personal and contextual. Parents can tailor their teaching to the needs and characteristics of each child. They can also provide real-life examples and role models for their children.
Third, family education is holistic. Parents not only teach their children about manners but also about the values, morals, and norms that apply in society. This will help children develop good manners and become responsible members of society.
We believe that a policy measure that can be adopted by every policy-maker, especially at the local level, is the implementation of community curfew hours. The point is that every child is required to be at home from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. During this time, no one is allowed to go out, except under certain circumstances, including when accompanied by a guardian. During this time, law enforcement conducts regular patrols. If anyone is found wandering during these restricted hours, the child is returned home.
No matter what the child chooses to do during that time, the most important thing is that they are at home. We believe that, over time, the interaction between parents and children at home will once again become close and harmonious. This is because today’s issues regarding manners are heavily influenced by the poor quality of communication between parents and children.
Social learning theory states that humans learn through interaction with others. Parents can serve as role models for their children. When parents behave politely and courteously, their children will learn to behave politely and courteously as well.
Furthermore, cooperative learning theory states that learning is more effective when done cooperatively. Community learning sessions can serve as a means for children to learn cooperatively. During these sessions, children can help one another and learn from each other.
Contextual learning theory also states that learning is more effective when linked to the context of daily life. Community study hours can be linked to children’s daily lives. For example, during community study hours, children can learn about table manners, proper speech, and appropriate attire.Reflecting on these explanations, we reiterate that the best way to improve and instill good manners in the younger generation is by maximizing the role of family education. Just see for yourself how effective it is.
Author: Imam Alfafan Yakub
