Psychological counseling must be normalized and made accessible in schools to help students navigate adolescence.

2. Sisi Kelam Realitas Sosial: Kenakalan Remaja Berbaju Sekolah

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this trend. Many parents lost jobs; online learning widened the digital divide. When schools reopened, many students had become accustomed to working. Others found their families could no longer afford to keep them idle in a classroom.

Paradoxically, the uniform—designed to promote equality—can itself become a source of economic hardship. Many families must allocate significant budgets for new uniforms every year. In some schools, uniforms can only be purchased through designated suppliers at prices higher than the general market, turning a tool of equality into a source of hidden discrimination. However, there have been some positive responses. The provincial government of East Kalimantan distributed 65,000 free school uniforms to new students in the 2025/2026 academic year. Similarly, during the 2025 , authorities instructed schools not to mandate expensive uniforms but to allow students to wear uniforms from their previous level or comfortable, modest clothing so as not to burden parents.

Indonesian society holds deeply ambivalent attitudes toward this issue. On one hand, there is . Seeing a student in uniform begging or selling goods triggers prihatin (compassion mixed with concern). Passersby often give money or buy goods, which reinforces the behavior. On the other hand, there is romanticization of struggle . The narrative of the anak jalanan (street child) who works hard in a uniform is sometimes praised as “grit” or “entrepreneurship” ( anak hebat, tidak malu bekerja ). This cultural framing obscures the violation of the child’s right to education.

Perkembangan teknologi digital membawa tantangan kultural baru bagi para pelajar berseragam. Konteks "pelajar masih berseragam" kini bergeser ke ranah digital, seperti TikTok dan Instagram.

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The phenomenon of pelajar masih berseragam (students still in their school uniforms) engaging in complex social behaviors outside school hours is a unique window into contemporary Indonesian social issues and culture. In Indonesia, school uniforms—ranging from the red-and-white of elementary schools to the iconic grey-and-white ( abu-abu ) of high schools—are not just educational attire. They are powerful cultural symbols. When students engage in public misconduct, political protests, or digital trends while wearing these uniforms, it ignites intense national debate about morality, education, and the shifting landscape of youth culture. The Uniform as a Cultural and Moral Anchor

Fenomena "nongkrong" atau hangout setelah sekolah dalam keadaan masih berseragam sering kali merupakan cara remaja melepaskan penat dan membangun solidaritas kelompok (peer group) yang kuat.

In response, schools in Surabaya have launched programs like "Stop Early Marriage So You Don't Become a School-Age Widow" to educate students about the dangers and consequences of early marriage, which include stunting risks and health dangers for both mother and baby. But prevention requires more than a single campaign—it demands systemic change in how communities view education and the value of keeping children in school.

A major cultural shift in 2024–2026 has been the inclusion of pakaian adat (traditional attire) as a mandated school uniform category. The Issue: