Kekerasan Seksual di Sekolah: Relasi Kuasa Lemah, Pencegahan Terus Gagal

denying another round of allegations of sexual violence in educational institutions. Academic observers and the National Commission on Women (Komnas Perempuan) point to a recurring pattern rather than isolated incidents: cases involving schools in the Tangsel area and the upheaval surrounding the alleged sexual assault in Gunung Es have once again drawn public attention to a problem that, according to several observers, has never truly been resolved.

Even though the two cases emerged from different places and different contexts, observers argue that they share the same structural foundation, namely a hierarchical relationship between teachers, school administrators, students, and parents that often leaves victims without a safe channel for reporting. Allegations of this kind are difficult to prove not only because of the lack of witnesses, but also because victims frequently hesitate to speak, fearing retaliation, academic punishment, or social stigma.

Two Cases, One Pattern

In Tangsel, residents have been discussing alleged acts of sexual violence committed by a teacher against students. The case reportedly triggered concerns among parents who demanded transparency from the school and the education office. Meanwhile, the commotion surrounding Gunung_es illustrated a different dimension: violence that involves not only the perpetrator and the victim, but also a wide network of witnesses, school officials, and community figures who are suspected of silencing the report rather than handling it properly.

Observers emphasize that the two cases should not be treated as separate incidents. They see both as symptoms of a system that allows abuse to occur and to persist. In many schools, complaints about sexual violence still flow through informal, personal channels rather than through formal mechanisms, so that cases can be quietly resolved or even buried before they reach the authorities.

Power Relations as the Root Problem

Academics who study gender issues in education maintain that the main obstacle is not the absence of rules, but the unequal distribution of power. Teachers hold administrative authority over grades, attendance, and graduation, while students are positioned as subordinates who are expected to obey without question. This asymmetry is what makes prevention programs difficult to implement.

According to Komnas Perempuan, prevention efforts must begin with a fundamental change in how institutions view sexual violence: not as a private matter or a disciplinary issue, but as a criminal act that requires handling through formal channels. The Commission also stresses that a reporting system will only function if those who report are protected. Without protection, victims tend to withdraw their statements, and cases end without clear resolution.

Regulations Exist, Implementation Is Weak

Indonesia already has a ministerial regulation on the prevention and handling of sexual violence in educational units, which obliges schools to establish reporting procedures, provide counseling services, and cooperate with law enforcement. The problem, according to observers, lies in execution. Many schools still lack trained counselors, standard reporting instruments, and safe spaces for students to speak.

Komnas Perempuan also reminds that data on cases of violence against women and children collected through its CATAHU recording system shows that the education sector continues to be among the fields with a relatively high number of reports. This condition indicates that incidents are not rare; they are simply not always surfaced.

What Observers Recommend

Several recommendations have been put forward. First, schools should make reporting channels open and non-bureaucratic, including mechanisms that do not require the victim to confront the suspect directly. Second, training on prevention and handling of sexual violence should be made mandatory and continuously updated for teachers and school administrators, not merely attended once a year.

Third, protection for whistleblowers and victims must be guaranteed, including protection against academic sanctions or expulsion. Fourth, cooperation among schools, parent associations, Komnas Perempuan, and the police should be institutionalized so that handling of cases does not depend on the goodwill of individual officials.

Ultimately, observers conclude that eradicating sexual violence in schools cannot rely solely on punishment after a case has surfaced. Prevention, transparency, and a genuine commitment to protecting victims are what determine whether the next allegation ends in a court process or once again in silence.