A 10-year-old student in East Nusa Tenggara province has died by suicide after reportedly being distressed over his family’s inability to afford necessary school supplies, sparking immediate concern from national leaders. The tragedy in Ngada Regency underscores the economic challenges facing some Indonesian families and has prompted a swift response from President Prabowo Subianto, who has directed government officials to investigate and provide assistance. Authorities are now examining reports that the student’s school requested a fee of approximately $77 USD, a sum his widowed mother struggled to pay, even wiht partial installments already submitted.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. You can contact a mental health professional, a psychiatrist, or a mental health clinic.
The death of a 10-year-old elementary school student in Jerebuu, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has prompted a response from the Indonesian government. The student, identified only by the initials YBR, died by suicide after reportedly being upset over not receiving school supplies.
According to reports, YBR, a fourth-grade student, took his own life due to disappointment at not being provided with a notebook and pen for school. The tragedy has sparked public concern and drawn attention to the economic hardships faced by some families in the region.
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YBR’s mother, a widow, was unable to afford the necessary school supplies due to severe financial constraints.
Prior to the incident, YBR and other students were repeatedly asked by the school to pay a fee of 1.2 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $77 USD).
The elementary school in question is a public school. Students are assessed an annual fee of 1,220,000 Rupiah, payable in installments throughout the year.
YBR’s mother had already paid 500,000 Rupiah for the first semester, leaving a balance of 720,000 Rupiah due in installments for the second semester.
“This applies to fourth-graders specifically. It’s not considered an outstanding debt, as it’s still within the current school year. The school allows for installment payments, with the first semester requiring 500,000 Rupiah, which they have already paid. So, the remaining amount (720,000 Rupiah) is due in installments this semester,” explained Veronika Milo, Head of the Women and Child Protection Unit at the Ngada Regency Empowerment, Community, Women’s Empowerment, and Child Protection Office (DPMDP3A), as reported by detikBali on Thursday, February 5th.
Milo and her team gathered this information after meeting with the school principal and teachers on Tuesday, February 3rd. The UPTD PPA DPMDP3A Ngada team interviewed family members, community members, and school officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding YBR’s death.
Milo confirmed that the school did not threaten to expel YBR if the fee remained unpaid. Instead, school officials simply informed students to relay the payment information to their parents. This information was communicated to students daily after school.
“We verified with the school whether there was a practice of expelling students for unpaid fees, which is common in Flores culture. However, the school stated that it was simply providing information,” Milo stated.
Government Responds to Tragedy
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Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi expressed deep concern over the case. Pras stated that President Prabowo Subianto is closely monitoring the situation and has directed officials to provide immediate assistance to the family.
“Therefore, the President has given his attention to this matter and, through us, has asked us to coordinate to prevent similar incidents in the future. Perhaps we need to increase social awareness at all levels,” Pras told reporters at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 4th.
Coordination with relevant ministers has already begun, and assistance is being provided.
“We have coordinated with the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Social Affairs to provide assistance to the family and, most importantly, to prevent this from happening again,” he added.
The government is awaiting further investigation from the police to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. Pras believes that an official statement regarding the factors that led to the incident should come from law enforcement to avoid speculation.
Prabowo’s Focus on NTT
Pras emphasized that Prabowo has given serious attention to the conditions in NTT, which has the highest rate of extreme poverty in Indonesia. He assured the public that the government is working diligently to ensure that no citizens live below the poverty line.
“As we have said, if this is due to poverty, we are working very hard to ensure that no more of our brothers and sisters live below the poverty line,” he said.
Various efforts and interventions are being implemented by the government, particularly for the most vulnerable groups. Pras stressed the importance of a thorough evaluation, especially regarding social assistance schemes and beneficiary data.
“Through village heads and community leaders who continuously monitor and report when residents are not included or registered as beneficiaries of government programs,” he explained.
The government is also coordinating with the Minister of Education and Culture, given that the victim was a school-aged child. Pras believes that, in addition to family and environmental factors, the role of schools is crucial, especially in providing education and attention to students’ mental health.
“We are trying to find all possible ways to prevent this from happening again,” he concluded.
Strengthening Child Protection Programs
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, expressed her condolences over the suicide of the elementary school student in NTT. She stated that child protection programs must be consistently implemented.
“We express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family. This event serves as a reminder that strengthening the child protection system through the implementation of Child-Friendly Cities/Regencies (KLA) must be consistent at the family and community levels,” Fauzi said in a written statement on Thursday, February 5th.
Fauzi emphasized that the Child-Friendly Cities/Regencies program should not be merely a regulation but should provide tangible benefits for children.
“The state must not be absent in ensuring that every child receives protection, education, and a safe space to grow and develop. The central and regional governments must ensure that KLA policies are not limited to regulations but are truly felt by children,” she added.
A Stark Warning
Deputy Chairman of PAN Eddy Soeparno also expressed his condolences. Eddy stated that the incident serves as a warning to all parties, including the government.
He initially said he was saddened and concerned by the incident, affirming that basic school needs are a right for children receiving an education.
“We are truly saddened, concerned, and mournful over the news we received, because, in any case, we feel that our children who are pursuing education need to have their basic needs met and that must be provided affordably,” Eddy said to reporters at the DPR RI Building, Jakarta, on Thursday, February 5th.
Eddy believes that the current data collection of underprivileged school children needs to be evaluated. He urged regional heads to resolve this issue.
“It must be carried out thoroughly and comprehensively by regional heads, village heads, sub-district heads, and others, so that they can map who among the people under their authority need special attention, so that we can prevent things like this from happening. So, I think data collection is very important,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairwoman of Commission X of the DPR, Hetifah Sjaifudian, condemned the alleged collection of 1.2 million Rupiah from the school to the fourth-grade student in NTT who died by suicide. She affirmed that the collection was a violation of the law.
She initially stated that related parties must investigate the information about the 1.2 million Rupiah collection. Clarification regarding the matter is needed.
“We must ensure the truth of this information by clarifying whether the collection actually occurred at the school,” Hetifah said when contacted on Thursday, February 5th.
Hetifah said that collections at schools are actually prohibited, as regulated in Law No. 20/2003 on National Education System.
“Basic education in public schools must be free of charge, so the collection of 1.2 million Rupiah/year in the Ngada case is a violation of the law,” she emphasized.
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