DIY ensures optimal handling for child victims and parents in daycare case

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) local government has assured that it will handle the case of violence and neglect at Little Aresha Daycare in Yogyakarta City as optimally as possible for both the affected children and their parents. “The handling must be as optimal as possible for both the children who are victims and their parents,” said Head of the DIY Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control Agency (DP3AP2) Erlina Hidayati Sumardi in Yogyakarta on Wednesday. According to her, this aligns with instructions from DIY Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who has directed the handling and protection of the 53 child victims from the daycare. It not only targets the children’s physical well-being but also the mental condition of the affected parents. Moreover, the parents of the daycare case victims are certainly experiencing psychological pressures, feelings of guilt, and concerns about their children’s growth and physical health. “Regarding funding, the Governor has directed that this must be covered. That means it will be covered by the local government, city government, and provincial government,” she said. Furthermore, Erlina stated that there are currently 217 registered child care centres (TPA) in the districts and cities across DIY in the Basic Education Data (Dapodik). On the aspect of legality, Erlina clarified that administratively, a daycare is one form of institution in early childhood education (PAUD). Under the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation, the official term used is child care centre (TPA). “For PAUD, TPA, or daycare, it is one of the institutions in PAUD. The licensing and supervision are under the Education Offices in each region, meaning at the district and city levels,” she said. Therefore, she added, Sri Sultan advised the public, especially parents, to be more vigilant in choosing childcare institutions. The legality of an institution guarantees mechanisms for guidance and supervision by the government. “It is better to prepare vigilance and awareness to check the legal documents of the institution before enrolling a child there. If it is licensed, there are mechanisms for monitoring, supervision, and guidance, including training,” she said.