Parents of Taruna Students in Medan Raise Concerns Over Boarding School Security

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Several parents of students at SMA Pulau Berayan Darat (PBD) Medan have raised concerns over the security of students' personal belongings at the boarding school. According to the parents, the complaints surfaced after several Taruna students reportedly lost personal items. They also stressed that the incidents appeared to be more than isolated cases.

The complaints were raised through the official social media account of SMAS Taruna PBD Medan. The parents hope the school and foundation will strengthen supervision and take firm measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The complaints were made public on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The parents also urged the school to place greater emphasis on students' character development so that similar incidents can be prevented in the future.

Parents Voice Concerns on Social Media

One of the complaints was posted by the account @rara can't talk rn in the comment section of a TikTok post by SMAS Taruna PBD Medan. The account said the school needed to improve the security of students' personal belongings. Repeated incidents of lost property, the account said, could eventually make students feel unsafe while living at the boarding school.

"It seems the security of students' belongings needs more attention because if things keep going missing, eventually students will be confused about where they can feel safe. Hopefully, there will be more serious action in the future, rather than simply telling students to 'take care of their own belongings,'" the account wrote.

The account also called on the school to take educational measures if it was able to identify the person responsible for the missing items.

In response to the complaint, the official SMAS Taruna PBD Medan account said the school had already attempted to provide security measures in the boarding area.

"We have provided the boarding facilities as best as we can, sir/madam. CCTV cameras have been installed above the ceiling, but they were broken, so what else can we do? We have also provided the best possible guidance to our students at school," the school wrote.

The school also reminded parents not to send expensive belongings or large amounts of money with their children to the boarding school. Students were advised to deposit large amounts of cash with the boarding school management.

"Students have already been informed not to bring luxurious belongings or keep large amounts of money with them, so as not to invite bad intentions from those around them. If they do have a large amount of money, it is better to leave it with the boarding supervisor," the school stated.

Another complaint came from the account @Ida, who said she was the parent of a Taruna student at PBD Medan. She described the incidents as troubling and expressed concern that more students could become victims.

"Incidents like this are quite concerning because there could be another victim. We ask the school to pay greater attention to the security of students' belongings and find a solution so that cases of lost property do not happen again," she wrote.

In response, SMAS Taruna PBD Medan said the school had coordinated with the foundation regarding the matter.

"I have already confirmed this with the foundation, ma'am. It turns out that the foundation has taken responsibility and provided compensation, although it was not 100 percent," the school wrote.

The school again reminded parents not to provide their children with excessive amounts of belongings or money while they were staying at the boarding school.

"Since they are staying in a boarding school, it is advisable not to give them too many belongings or too much money, ma'am. This is only a suggestion. The school also advises students not to keep large amounts of money with them. We sincerely apologize once again," the school stated.

Parents Call for Comprehensive Security Review

The account @Aswindy Fachrizal, who identified himself as the parent of a Taruna student at PBD Medan, also expressed disappointment. He said the school's strong reputation was one of the reasons parents had entrusted PBD Medan with their children's education.

For that reason, he expected the school and foundation to give serious attention to the safety of students and their personal belongings while they were living in the boarding school.

"This school has a very good reputation. That is why I and all the Taruna parents entrust our children to it. As parents, we have high hopes for the best future for our children," he wrote.

He said parents had repeatedly approached the school with complaints and suggestions regarding lost belongings.

"However, as a parent, I have previously conveyed several complaints and suggestions regarding missing belongings. Has this only happened once? There should be no tolerance for the attitude of individuals who take what does not belong to them from my child," he continued.

He subsequently urged the school's owners and management to conduct a comprehensive review of security conditions at the boarding school.

A similar complaint was also expressed by the account @herlinaginting369. She called on the foundation to fulfill its responsibility in handling cases involving students' lost belongings.

In addition to security, she highlighted the importance of students' character and personality development so that the school environment could continue to foster the growth of a disciplined generation with good conduct.

"They are the future generation, but without good attitude, what will become of them in the future? Thank you. I am still waiting for an answer and response," she wrote.

Foundation Promises Improvements and Action

In response to the various complaints, Yayasan Pendidikan Airindo Kacaribu SMA Pulau Berayan Darat Medan issued a letter to the parents and guardians of Taruna students. The letter outlined eight measures concerning the security of personal belongings at the boarding school.

In the letter, the school and boarding management apologized for the inconvenience experienced by students. Parents and guardians were also asked to submit complaints directly through the WhatsApp number provided in the letter so that those responsible could respond promptly.

The school also asked parents not to raise complaints through social media. Instead, parents and guardians were encouraged to work together to maintain the school's reputation and resolve problems through direct communication channels.

In the letter, the boarding management again reminded students not to keep valuables, food or money in their rooms. Students carrying large amounts of money or valuables were instructed to deposit them with boarding school staff.

To strengthen character and discipline, the boarding management said it regularly conducts evening assemblies featuring guidance and reminders for students. The school also announced sanctions against students proven to have violated boarding school regulations.

The foundation also acknowledged problems with the CCTV system at the boarding school. It therefore promised to repair the existing cameras and install additional CCTV cameras within one week. The position of students' lockers will also be adjusted so that the area can be monitored more effectively by the cameras.

In addition to the CCTV improvements, the foundation said it would repair damaged bathroom doors during the same week.

Regarding reports of missing belongings, the school and boarding management said they would assist in searching for the missing items, check the individuals concerned and review CCTV recordings. If a perpetrator is identified, appropriate sanctions will be imposed. Students proven to have taken belongings belonging to other students could even be expelled from the boarding school.

"This letter is hereby issued. Thank you for the attention and patience of the parents and guardians of the Taruna students," the letter concluded.

Parents Seek Clarity on Follow-Up

Although the foundation has issued the letter, some parents continue to question the implementation of the eighth point, particularly the handling of reports involving lost belongings.

They want to know whether the school has identified the person suspected of taking a Taruna student's belongings, whether sanctions have been imposed and what type of sanctions were applied. Parents are also asking whether the school has held discussions with the guardians of the students involved.

According to several parents, they have yet to receive an official explanation from the foundation or boarding management regarding the outcome of investigations into the reported cases.

The head of SMA Taruna PBD Medan, Jasa Karokaro, said when contacted that the school would work to improve the problems that had occurred.

"Let us clarify this first so that improvements can be made and things can become even better. Hopefully, this will not happen again," Jasa wrote.

However, when asked about concrete measures, including the possibility of summoning or holding a meeting between the school and the parents or guardians of Taruna students, Jasa initially provided no further details.

Meanwhile, a mother of a Taruna student, Linda, specifically questioned the implementation of the eighth point in the foundation's letter, which concerns the handling of reports involving lost belongings.

"Has the perpetrator been identified? Have sanctions been imposed? What sanctions has the school given, and why do these incidents keep happening?" Linda asked.

Linda emphasized that the parents were not demanding financial compensation from the school for their losses. Their main concern, she said, was ensuring that their children could continue their education and life at the boarding school in a safe and comfortable environment.

"As parents, we have never demanded that the school financially compensate us for our losses. We only want our children to study in a safe and comfortable environment," she said.

The security of students' personal belongings at the boarding school therefore remains a major concern among the parents of Taruna students. They hope the school and foundation will not merely issue recommendations, but also ensure improvements to security facilities, supervision, the handling of reports of lost belongings and the actual implementation of sanctions. Such measures are expected to maintain parents' trust in SMA Taruna PBD Medan and ensure that the school environment provides all Taruna students with a sense of security. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala