For many families, the challenge of paying school fees is a heavy burden.
But when children become the ones punished for financial struggles, it’s a blow that cuts deeper.
This was the reality for a Year Four student in Medan, Indonesia, who was forced to sit on the classroom floor as punishment for unpaid school fees.
The incident happened at Abdi Sukma School, where a teacher’s decision to humiliate the child sparked outrage after a video surfaced online.
The pupil’s family had fallen three months behind on payments, as reported by Tribun Tangerang.
‘They should not treat my child like an animal’
The child’s mother, Kamelia, 38, couldn’t hold back her frustration and sorrow.
Teachers are highly educated individuals. At the very least, they should not treat my child like an animal,” she said.
Her words echoed the pain of watching her child’s dignity stripped away over something the family couldn’t control.
Kamelia shared how her family has been struggling to make ends meet, relying solely on her husband’s income as a construction worker.
She had hoped to pay the overdue fees by selling a mobile phone but was too late.
For her child, the punishment was not just embarrassing—it was deeply hurtful.
The student now feels reluctant to return to school.
I wanted to settle the fees last week but the damage was already done.”
School apologises
Juli Sari, the headteacher of Abdi Sukma School, claimed she was unaware of the teacher’s actions and has since apologised to the family.
While the apology may provide some comfort, the incident has raised bigger questions about how schools handle unpaid fees and whether such punishments are ever justified.
This story is more than just one family’s struggle—it’s a reflection of a larger issue.
How can schools support students and families in financial distress without resorting to punitive measures? For children, education should be a place of growth and encouragement, not a stage for humiliation.
