Indonesia launches 2026 school orientation with anti‑bullying drive

Indonesia is preparing for the 2026 Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah (MPLS) that will begin on Monday, 13 July 2026, involving high schools, vocational schools and special schools. The event will welcome 618,479 new students nationwide, with the provincial opening in East Java centered at SMKN 2 Singosari, Malang. Activities include an anti‑smoking declaration, integrity pledges and a strict ban on perpeloncoan (bullying and harassment), as mandated by the 2026 education regulation.

At the same time, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) addressed 191 heads of rural schools (Sekolah Rakyat) in an online briefing. He presented a survey of 174 school heads showing high mental‑readiness scores (8.95/10) but limited overall preparedness, with only 18 % feeling fully ready for MPLS. The heads highlighted needs for additional teachers, clearer budgets, and further training. Gus Ipul emphasized the importance of inclusive systems that develop all students, not just a few high‑achievers, and pledged ministry support to address the identified challenges.