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West Java’s education maneuvers not binding for all: Ombudsman
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West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi (third left) talks with some students when inspecting a character and discipline training at a military education in West Bandung regency, West Java on May 5, 2025. Hundreds of students from various regions across West Java who are found of involved in street brawls, motorbike gangs and addicted to online games undergo an intensive training led by Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel for at least 14 days. (Antara/Abdan Syakura)
T
he Indonesian Ombudsman has assured that a series of controversial education policies introduced by the West Java administration would only apply to schools under the supervision of the province’s education agency, and do not extend to institutions managed by the Religious Affairs Ministry or local city and regency administrations.
The statement comes amid West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi’s initiatives to impose earlier school start times and nighttime curfews, as well as sending “misbehaving” students to military-style bootcamps, all of which have drawn criticism from the public and education experts for their potential negative impact on students’ cognitive and mental well-being.
In the latest development, the West Java Education Agency issued a technical directive following the governor’s decree on optimizing school learning processes.
The directive eliminates written homework for senior high school, vocational and special-needs students under the agency’s jurisdiction, replacing it with "reflective and explorative activities designed to strengthen students' awareness of their roles within family, society and the natural environment.”
In response to the circular, West Java Ombudsman head Dan Satriana emphasized that the letter is “more of a notification and does not regulate sanctions”, further stressing that any educational reforms must be grounded in reliable data and a logical, accountable framework.
Read also: Earlier school start times may hurt children’s brain development
Citing the planned 6:30 a.m. school start time as an example, Dan warned that such policies require thorough preparation from both families and educators.
