Protection of Teachers and Students from a Legal Perspective in Indonesia

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FORMOSA NEWS - Jakarta - Legal Protection for Teachers and Students in Indonesia Remains Uneven, Study Finds. Legal protection for teachers and students in Indonesia remains inconsistent in practice despite strong regulatory foundations, according to a 2026 study by Meysita Arum Nugroho, S.H., M.H., and Amsori, S.H., M.H., from IBLAM College of Law (STIH) Jakarta. Published in the Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences, the research highlights critical gaps between law and implementation and emphasizes the need for a more balanced and integrated protection system in Indonesian education. The findings matter as schools increasingly face legal conflicts involving teachers, students, and parents. Cases related to student discipline, school violence, and allegations of misconduct have drawn public attention, raising concerns about how legal frameworks are applied in real educational settings.

Strong Legal Framework, Weak Implementation

Indonesia has established a comprehensive legal framework to protect both teachers and students. Teachers are legally protected under the National Education System Law and the Law on Teachers and Lecturers, which guarantee legal security and professional protection while carrying out educational duties. At the same time, students are protected under the Child Protection Law, which ensures children’s rights to be free from physical, psychological, and sexual violence in educational environments. However, the study by researcher from STIH IBLAM Jakarta reveals a disconnect between these regulations and their implementation. Teachers often face legal challenges without adequate institutional support, while student protection mechanisms are not always effectively enforced. This imbalance has created uncertainty in schools, where both educators and students may feel inadequately protected.

Simple Legal Analysis Approach
The research uses a normative legal approach, analyzing Indonesian laws and regulations alongside conceptual frameworks of legal protection. Instead of collecting field data, the study examines how existing laws are structured and how they function in practice.\

This approach allows the authors to identify systemic issues, including:

• Differences in interpretation among stakeholders.
• Weak institutional mechanisms within schools and professional bodies.
• Lack of a balanced protection paradigm for both teachers and students.

The findings suggest that the challenge lies not in the absence of laws, but in how those laws are understood and applied.

Key Findings at a Glance

The study highlights several important findings:

• Legal protections for teachers and students are already well established in national regulations.
• Implementation remains inconsistent across schools and regions.
• Teachers are vulnerable to criminalization in disciplinary cases.
• Student protection mechanisms are not always effectively enforced.
• Institutional support systems, such as professional organizations, are not fully optimized.

These findings point to a structural issue within the education system, where legal certainty does not always translate into practical protection.

Real-World Impact on Education

The study underscores that ineffective legal protection can directly affect the quality of education. Teachers who feel legally vulnerable may hesitate to enforce discipline, weakening their role in character development. At the same time, inadequate protection for students can lead to unsafe learning environments, undermining educational outcomes. A balanced legal system, the authors argue, is essential for maintaining a safe, fair, and effective education system in Indonesia.

Author Profile

Meysita Arum Nugroho, S.H., M.H. is a legal scholar at IBLAM College of Law (STIH) Jakarta, specializing in education law and legal protection systems.

Amsori, S.H., M.H. is a lecturer at IBLAM College of Law (STIH) Jakarta with expertise in public law and judicial systems, focusing on legal frameworks in education and governance.

Source
Meysita Arum Nugroho & Amsori. (2026). Protection of Teachers and Students from a Legal Perspective in Indonesia. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 5 No. 2, hlm. 737–748.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i2.12
URL: https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas