“The death of YBS shows that the state has failed to guarantee access to education for children from poor families,” Hamid said. “The right to education does not only mean school fees—it also includes access to learning materials. When this fails, it can severely affect a child’s psychological well-being, especially under conditions of extreme poverty.”

Amnesty International Indonesia further highlighted that poverty strips people of dignity, marginalizes them, and leaves them feeling powerless—conditions that limit participation in social, political, and cultural life, including the enjoyment of the right to education.

“Poverty silences people. Reflecting on this devastating incident, we urge a total evaluation of poverty eradication programs and the implementation of genuinely free education so that cases like YBS do not happen again,” Hamid said. “The state must involve affected communities and listen to their voices.”

The organization reiterated that quality education is a right guaranteed by the Indonesian Constitution and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The state, it said, has an obligation not only to build schools, but also to ensure that every child has access to essential educational tools without financial barriers.

“The state must not only appear in grand narratives of trillion-rupiah budgets for major programs, while being absent when a child is allegedly driven to end his life because he lacks a book and a pen,” Hamid added.

“Social justice in this country will never stand as long as access to education remains a luxury for the poor and continues to be neglected by the state.”

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