Minister Arifah: Religious and Ethical Values Protect Children's Development

Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Fauzi has stated that the cultivation of religious values, character, morals, and ethics by parents serves as a protective shield for children’s growth and development. “Parents need to build a foundation of religious values, character, ethics, and morals because this is important and will become a fortress for children,” Arifah said at STAI Ma’had Aly Al-Hikam in Malang City, East Java, on Wednesday. She noted that instilling these values is an obligation for every parent, as it will minimise the impact of the many challenges facing children’s development in the digital era, such as gadget addiction and exposure to negative content. “The step of building a character foundation based on religious values, character, morals, and ethics will foster understanding and a sense of care for the surrounding environment,” she said. This, in turn, can create a sensitivity that enables children to understand the difference between good and bad behaviour. She added that the active role of parents will strengthen the government’s strategy to provide security and comfort for children to grow and develop through the National Movement for Safe and Comfortable Spaces for Children (Gernas RANA). Furthermore, Arifah reminded school principals, teachers, and staff in all educational institutions to implement efforts to prevent violence and bullying among students by strengthening the supervision system. She also suggested that school personnel, particularly guidance and counselling (BK) teachers, build close relationships with every student so that when they notice a change in a student’s attitude, they can quickly identify the cause.