Child Welfare Expert Reveals Multiple Factors Behind Child Abuse in Daycares

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Child welfare expert Nahar views the proliferation of child abuse cases in daycares or childminding institutions as resulting from multiple factors, including individual, institutional, and systemic weaknesses in oversight. “The factors include, first, low quality and competence among caregivers, which can be found in daycares where staff lack training in child development and rights, do not understand positive ways to handle child behaviour, and resort to instant methods such as shouting, threatening, or physical violence,” said Nahar when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday. Second, high workloads and stress, for example, an imbalanced ratio of caregivers to the number of children they must serve, long working hours and low wages, as well as emotional exhaustion. “Such conditions can increase the risk of emotional outbursts and harsh treatment towards children,” said Nahar. “Without controls, bad practices easily occur and recur because not all daycares have official permits. Operational standards are not implemented, and there is minimal direct oversight from the government,” said this former Deputy for Special Child Protection at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA). Fourth, the lack of child protection systems, both in norms, structures, and processes in the implementation of alternative childcare by child care institutions. “Some cases emerge because complaint mechanisms have not been implemented, CCTV or open monitoring still faces obstacles, and of course, children are not yet able to report it themselves clearly, except with the help of parents or child companions,” said Nahar. Recently, a child abuse case was uncovered at Daycare Little Aresha in Yogyakarta. The Yogyakarta Police have named 13 suspects in the child abuse and neglect case at Daycare Little Aresha. Then, the Baby Preneur daycare in Banda Aceh was also embroiled in a similar case. The Banda Aceh Police have named three caregivers as suspects.