Government Prepares New Regulations for Daycare Management
The government is preparing new regulations to improve the governance of national daycare services. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno stated that the plan is a response to the child abuse case that occurred in Yogyakarta.
This policy will encompass the integration of cross-ministerial rules and the strengthening of the supervisory system. Pratikno said the government has held a ministerial-level meeting to formulate comprehensive improvements, not only as a response to the case but also for systemic enhancements moving forward.
“We are not only responding to the Yogyakarta case but also preparing improvements in governance and guaranteeing the quality of daycare services comprehensively,” said Pratikno during a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture office on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
He stated that the government will soon draft an integrated regulatory framework that serves as a common reference for ministries and agencies. One of the initial steps is the formation of a task force to formulate short- to long-term policies, including the preparation of an academic paper as the basis for the regulations.
The new regulations will cover the standardisation of licensing, integration of programmes, and the development of an integrated information system in the form of a national daycare data portal. The government will also strengthen field supervision mechanisms.
The abuse case at the Little Arisya daycare in Yogyakarta has triggered the acceleration of this policy. The government has closed and sealed the facility, while legal proceedings are underway and victim support is being provided by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection along with relevant parties.
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi explained that current daycare regulations are scattered across various ministries. Her ministry has the Child-Friendly Daycare (TARA) standards, while other ministries have different programmes and schemes.
“Going forward, we want these regulations to be integrated so that supervision and support can also be carried out more effectively,” said Arifah.
In Yogyakarta, there are 37 licensed daycares and 33 unlicensed ones. This data indicates the weakness in the licensing and supervision system. National data is also considered not yet integrated.
Other findings from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) also show that daycare governance issues are varied, ranging from overlapping licensing to weak field supervision.
Pratikno emphasised that through these new regulations, the government wants to ensure that daycare services continue to develop to meet societal needs, but with stricter child protection standards.
“Daycare is a societal need. But we must ensure that quality, safety, and child protection are truly guaranteed,” he said.