Banda Aceh City Government affirms only six legal daycares

Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - The Banda Aceh City Government has emphasised that only six child care centres (TPA/daycares) are legal or possess operational permits in the provincial capital of Aceh. “In Banda Aceh City, to date, there are only six child care centres that are legal and have permits,” stated the Head of the Banda Aceh City Education Office, Sulaiman Bakri, in Banda Aceh on Wednesday. This statement was issued in response to the case of alleged abuse of an 18-month-old toddler at Daycare Baby Preneur Banda Aceh, which is currently under investigation by local police. Sulaiman detailed the six daycares as follows: TPA Annisa Arfah at Jl Chik Dipineung Raya Lr Rukun Warisan No 45A, Syiah Kuala Subdistrict, Banda Aceh City. Then, TPA Islam Bustan As Sofa at Jalan Prada Utama, Lr Mushalla, No 1, Syiah Kuala Subdistrict, Banda Aceh City. The fifth is TPA Cinta Ananda at Jalan Tgk Chik Dipineueng Raya No 49, Syiah Kuala Subdistrict, Banda Aceh City. “Finally, TPA Kiddy Kid CENTER at Jalan Tgk Blang Chiep, Jaya Baru Subdistrict, Banda Aceh City. Those are the six permitted child care centres in Banda Aceh,” he said. Based on records from the Banda Aceh City Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP), the problematic daycare does not have an official permit, so the government is taking steps to close its operations. “This problematic TPA will be closed. For other TPAs without permits, we will close them all,” he stated. On this occasion, he urged the public to provide information if they know of any child care centres without permits, so that action can be taken. “Hopefully, with public involvement in providing information to us, this will be part of our efforts to inform relevant parties to close them permanently,” said Sulaiman. “So, regarding this matter, even though it is an educational facility for children, it falls under the domain of the Education Office to verify and assess suitability,” he added. After the verification process, a recommendation from the Education Office is then submitted to the DPMPTSP for continuation to the permitting stage. “After the technical recommendation is issued, we at the DPMPTSP then issue the permit. So, we are the final point for issuing permits,” said Mohd Ichsan.