Indonesian school rules and discrimination in education against pregnant students: A challenge for human rights implementation.

The article examines Indonesian school rules concerning pregnant students and their impact on these students' right to education from a human rights perspective. It finds that most Indonesian schools impose disciplinary sanctions—such as expulsion, returning students to their parents, or requiring resignation—on students who become pregnant, impregnate others, or marry during their schooling, often using a point-based violation system. Despite Indonesia's ratification of international human rights treaties and national laws guaranteeing children's right to education, discriminatory school policies persist, influenced by gender bias, patriarchal cultural norms, and the state's limited intervention. Some schools allow pregnant students in their final year to continue studies and take national exams, and alternative education programs like Kejar Paket C offer options for those expelled, but challenges such as stigma, bullying, and unequal treatment of male students remain. The article recommends that the Indonesian government enact clear regulations prohibiting discrimination against pregnant students, implement supportive school policies, and promote comprehensive sex education to uphold pregnant students' educational rights.