200 Caregivers at South Sulawesi Sekolah Rakyat Pledge Readiness to Be Dismissed for Violence, Gus Ipul Stresses Empathy

As many as 200 foster guardians and dormitory guardians of Sekolah Rakyat from across South Sulawesi pledged their readiness to accept dismissal if proven to have committed violence, bullying, or intolerance. The pledge was made simultaneously before Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, familiarly known as Gus Ipul, at a caregiving strengthening event at the Balai Besar Pendidikan dan Pelatihan Kesejahteraan Sosial (BBPPKS) Makassar, Friday (25/9/2026).

With raised hands, the caregivers declared their commitment to carry out their duties with discipline, integrity, and empathy. "I, dormitory guardian and foster guardian of Sekolah Rakyat, am ready to be dismissed if I commit violations, especially bullying, physical or sexual violence, and intolerance," they said in a written statement received by LyndHub.

Responding to the pledge, Gus Ipul stressed that discipline and responsibility are the main foundations in educating children from diverse backgrounds. According to him, discipline means adherence to the code of ethics and rules, while responsibility means carrying out duties earnestly without shifting the burden to others. "Be total in your work, do not do things half-heartedly," he said.

Gus Ipul underlined that many Sekolah Rakyat students are victims of violence and have physical and mental health problems. Therefore, a humane and empathetic approach is a must. "Working in the Ministry of Social Affairs environment requires empathy, you must work with heart," he said.

This pledge serves as a kind of integrity test for the Sekolah Rakyat program initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The program targets children from underprivileged families, including those who have experienced trauma. The involvement of caregivers who are not only technically competent but also socially sensitive is the determinant of success. If caregivers instead commit violence, the program's noble goal will be destroyed and public trust eroded.

For stakeholders in the regions, especially in South Sulawesi, this commitment demands layered supervision. Regional governments, social services, and child protection agencies need to ensure there is no gap for violent practices. Safe and responsive reporting mechanisms must be provided, so that students and colleagues can report violations without fear. In addition, continuous training on positive caregiving and mental health needs to be strengthened.

From a policy perspective, Gus Ipul's statement reflects a new direction for the Ministry of Social Affairs that places empathy as a core competency. This approach is in line with the national child protection agenda, but its implementation in the field still faces classic challenges: limited human resources and high workloads. Without systemic support, the pledge could become mere formality.

Going forward, the public will wait to see whether this pledge is followed by concrete steps, such as periodic audits, firm sanctions without discrimination, and an independent complaint channel. If not, promises on paper will only become a historical record without real impact for the children who should be protected.