Social Ministry Opens Bullying Complaint Channel at Sekolah Rakyat, Whistleblower Confidentiality Guaranteed

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) has officially opened a complaint channel to receive reports of alleged bullying and violence within the Sekolah Rakyat environment. The public can submit complaints through the Lapor Kemensos WhatsApp service at 0887-7171-171. The move is intended to ensure the affirmative education program runs without any gap for violence.

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, familiarly known as Gus Ipul, said the channel is open to students, teachers, parents, and the general public. "This is an era of openness. We have prepared a channel so that nothing misses the target," he said in an official statement on Wednesday (30/9/2026). He stressed that every incoming complaint will be treated as an early alarm to prevent unwanted incidents.

Gus Ipul reminded his staff not to ignore even the smallest report. "Every complaint must be responded to, confirmed, validated, and verified. Do not ignore it," he said. He also stressed that the confidentiality of whistleblowers' identities is absolute. Personal information can only be accessed by the Sekolah Rakyat Task Force, the Minister of Social Affairs, and the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs.

The complaint procedure is designed in layers. First, the whistleblower sends a report via WhatsApp, attaching text, photo, or video evidence. Second, the system sorts the report by Sekolah Rakyat menu category, then connects the whistleblower to an operator through the 'Contact Officer' button. Third, call center staff enter the data into the SETARA system. Complaint categories include bullying, violence, corruption, harassment, abuse of authority, and others. Every report will receive a ticket ID number for follow-up.

For stakeholders in the education and child protection sectors, this step by Kemensos signals that Sekolah Rakyat governance will be monitored participatively. The transparency of the complaint mechanism can increase public trust, especially among parents who entrust their children to the program. However, its effectiveness depends heavily on consistent response and follow-up on the ground. Without firm enforcement, the complaint channel will be merely a formality.

Going forward, the public will scrutinize whether this channel can truly suppress violence rates at Sekolah Rakyat. The real test is not the launch of the system, but the handling of every incoming report. Can Kemensos uphold its commitment to confidentiality and speed of response? Time will tell, but oversight from civil society and the media remains crucial.