Indonesian Teachers’ Union Condemns Government Plan to Rebuild Collapsed Islamic Boarding School
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Indonesia’s Federation of Indonesian Teachers’ Unions (FSGI) has sharply criticized the government’s proposal to utilize state funds to rebuild the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, following a devastating building collapse that claimed the lives of dozens of students. The union argues that prioritizing reconstruction over supporting the victims’ families and investigating the cause of the tragedy is deeply insensitive and perhaps unjust.
The FSGI believes that allocating funds from the state budget (APBN) for immediate rebuilding is premature. “Don’t build it straight away, at the expense of the APBN,” stated a spokesperson for the union on Friday, October 10, 2025. “Moreover, this incident killed 67 students, who were still children. Actually, it took several days for the joint SAR team to evacuate dozens of victims buried in the ruins of the prayer room.” The union contends that a comprehensive investigation must precede any decision regarding redevelopment.
Calls for Thorough Investigation and Accountability
Authorities are currently investigating potential legal violations related to the collapse of the prayer room at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School. Law enforcement officials have questioned at least dozens of witnesses, utilizing Articles 359 and 360 of the Criminal Code, which address negligence resulting in death and injury. The investigation will also consider Law Number 28 of 2002 concerning Buildings, to determine if the construction adhered to established technical standards.
the FSGI asserts that accountability should be assigned to three key parties if negligence is proven. First, the boarding school administrators, who permitted continued use of the building despite ongoing construction. Second,the contractor responsible for the construction,whose practices will be scrutinized for potential carelessness. And third, the Ministry of Religion, which the FSGI accuses of failing to adequately monitor the safety and suitability of buildings under its purview.
Student Labour Raises Concerns of Exploitation
A especially troubling aspect of the tragedy is the reported involvement of students in the construction of the prayer room. Fahmi Hatib, General Chair of the FSGI, suggested this practice may constitute child exploitation. “The involvement of the students in the construction of the al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School prayer room can be strongly suspected of violating the Child Protection Law because it has the potential to constitute child exploitation,” hatib emphasized. “The students study at the Islamic Boarding School to gain knowledge and they pay for it all. They are not construction workers.”
Prioritizing Victim Recovery and Long-Term Support
Beyond opposing the use of state funds for rebuilding, the FSGI is urging the government to prioritize the recovery and well-being of the survivors, particularly those who have sustained disabilities. “FSGI urges islamic boarding schools and the government to think about the survival of children who survive but become disabled as they have to have their arms or legs amputated,” a union representative stated.
The FSGI stresses that this tragedy must serve as a critical lesson for all educational institutions, underscoring the paramount importance of student safety. The union is also advocating for comprehensive psychological support for the surviving students,calling on both central and regional governments to address the trauma resulting from the incident. “Apart from that, the trauma and psychological wounds resulting from this t
