Government Urged to Evaluate Daycare Licensing and SOPs in Indonesia

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sari Yuliati has urged the government to evaluate the licensing of childcare facilities or daycares in Indonesia. This call comes in the wake of a child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta. “This incident must serve as a momentum for improving the child protection system, particularly in childcare facilities. The state must ensure that every child receives a safe, decent environment that supports their growth and development,” Sari stated in her remarks on Monday (27/4/2026). Regarding the child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha, she requested that law enforcement authorities investigate the matter professionally, transparently, and accountably. “We demand that the legal process proceed professionally and impose firm sanctions on those proven to have committed violations. There must be no tolerance for any form of violence against children,” Sari emphasised. Amid these conditions, the need for childcare services is high. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) states that around 75% of families in Indonesia require alternative childcare. “In terms of governance, about 20% of daycares do not have SOPs, and 66.7% of the managing human resources are not certified. Meanwhile, 12% have registration marks and 13.3% are legal entities,” said Minister PPPA Arifah Fauzi in a written statement on Sunday (26/4/2026). Based on this, Minister PPPA is promoting the implementation of standardised childcare services through certification of Child-Friendly Daycare (TARA), as regulated in Ministry of PPPA Regulation Number 4 of 2024. The TARA programme covers standards for child-friendly daycare services, child rights-based childcare principles, referral networks and partnerships, as well as monitoring and evaluation systems. “We emphasise that human resources are the primary key. Managers and caregivers must understand the concept of child rights-based childcare and possess adequate competencies,” Arifah explained. Police have named 13 individuals as suspects and immediately detained them. The suspects were named after the Yogyakarta Police Resort held a case review on Saturday (25/4/2026) night, following a raid at the incident location. Head of Public Relations of the DIY Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Ihsan, stated that the suspects come from various elements within the institution, from leadership to caregiving staff. “Certainly, 13 people have been named as suspects, from the school principal, foundation chair, to the caregivers at the location. It could develop further, depending on the development process and additional statements from the suspects,” Ihsan said on Sunday (26/4/2026).