BANDA ACEH – Head of the Community Service (PKM) Team at the Faculty of Law, Syiah Kuala University (FH USK), Saifuddin Bantasyam, stated that school bullying is an issue that is often overlooked or taken lightly by many parties. In fact, the impact of bullying extends beyond physical injuries, causing mental and emotional damage that can jeopardize a person’s future.
Saifuddin Bantasyam highlighted this when opening the PKM event at SMAN 1 Lhoknga, Aceh Besar, on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
He expressed hope that all parties would take cases of bullying seriously. According to him, everyone must educate themselves, especially educational institutions, including schools, madrasahs, and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren).
“Everyone, starting from parents, teachers, students, to the broader community, must view bullying as a grave issue. The impact of such actions is not just short- and medium-term, but also long-term regarding students’ mental and emotional development,” Saifuddin said.
He detailed various forms of bullying, such as taunting, threats, social exclusion, and physical violence. In a learning environment that should be safe and supportive, he noted, bullying instead shatters students’ self-confidence and motivation.
Therefore, Saifuddin emphasized how crucial it is for teachers to recognize the signs of bullying among students.
“For instance, sudden behavioral changes, reluctance to go to school, declining academic performance, or unexplained physical complaints,” Saifuddin explained.
During the event, Saifuddin was assisted by other members of the FH USK PKM Team, including Prof. Ilyas Yunus, Nursiti, Ida Kemala Jeumpa, Roslaini, and Nurhafifah. They actively engaged in mentoring the students, who were divided into ten groups out of a total of 40 participants.
The group division aimed to make students the focus of the activity (student-based learning). Each group was assigned two questions to discuss and present, followed by feedback from the team members.
Saifuddin explained that during the presentations, students demonstrated a solid baseline understanding of why bullying frequently occurs in schools.
“They understand the impact on both victims and perpetrators, as well as what steps students should take if they become victims, alongside the roles of schools and parents in preventing bullying,” Saifuddin said regarding the session’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Principal of SMAN 1 Lhoknga, Zikriah, warmly welcomed the PKM FH USK activity. She noted that the theme of bullying and violence is particularly relevant to current conditions.
“The timing is truly spot on. We hope the presence of the FH USK Team goes beyond just this PKM program, but can also continue through other sessions to leave a lasting legacy for SMAN 1 Lhoknga in preventing bullying and violence in the future,” Zikriah said.***