PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - In an effort to overcome violence in educational environments, the Garut Regency Education Office (Disdik) held a Workshop on the Formation of a Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Educational Units (Satgas PPKSP), at the ANB Hotel & Resort, Pameungpeuk, Garut Regency (10/22/2024).

The activity which lasted for two days (19-20 October 2024) was attended by 30 participants, consisting of elements of the Population Control, Family Planning, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Service (DPPKBPPPA), Health Service, Social Service, Ministry of Religion Office, Satpol PP, Diskominfo, school principals, and school supervisors, in collaboration with the SEMAK Foundation (Children's Community Secretariat) and the Gemilang Sehat Indonesia Foundation (YSGI) through the Power to You(th) Program,

The chairman of the SEMAK Foundation, Agus Nurdin, said that the existence of the PPKSP Task Force was an important step to ensure that schools in Garut Regency have a clear system for dealing with violence.

"We are committed to ensuring that this task force functions optimally, both at the district and school levels, so that cases of violence can be handled appropriately," Agus emphasized.

This activity aims to highlight the increasing cases of violence against children and women. Based on data from the DPPKBPPPA of Garut Regency, until mid-2023, more than 50 cases of violence have been reported. In response to this, the Garut Regency Government has issued Regent Decree No. 100.3.3.2/Kep.1209-/2023, which is the basis for the formation of the PPKSP Task Force in the education sector.

Agus said that the main objective of this workshop was to prepare the work program of PPKSP and TPPK (School Violence Prevention and Handling Team) in 2024, support the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum related to violence prevention, and improve understanding of the policies and duties of the PPKSP Task Force.

Meanwhile, Tatang Rahman, Power to You(th) Program Manager, SEMAK Foundation, stated that this step was considered important to create a safe and comfortable learning environment.

"With good collaboration between parties, we can reduce the number of cases of violence in schools and guarantee children's rights," said Tatang.

Head of the Curriculum Section of the Garut Regency Education Office, Ajang Rusmana, who was also a resource person for this workshop, reminded that this issue of violence must be monitored together.

"There should be no more passing of authority. All parties, including the Education Office, DPPKBPPPA, and related agencies, must work together," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Didah Syajidah, from the DPPKBPPPA of Garut Regency, hopes that this workshop can create a joint commitment to protect children from violence in schools, in accordance with the mandate of the Child Protection Law Number 17 of 2016 and the Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Number 46 of 2023.

Through this workshop, it is expected that an effective mechanism will be formed in preventing and handling violence in schools, in order to create a safer educational environment and support the development of Garut children. (Garut Communication and Information Service/Fauziah)