Minister: Quality Time Between Fathers and Children Cannot Be Replaced by AI

Minister of Population and Family Development Wihaji has stated that quality conversation time between a father and child can never be replaced by technology or artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking during a review of the ‘Fathers Accompany Children on the First Day of School’ (Gamas) movement at SLB Negeri 2 Jakarta on Monday, he emphasised that the government is not anti-technology, but that devices should serve humans rather than control them, as technology lacks the heart and empathy of a person. He noted that quality interaction can be built through simple acts, such as accompanying a child to school, which becomes an important memory for the child.

Wihaji stressed that a father’s attention is a crucial foundation for a child’s growth and development. He cautioned that the presence of gadgets must be monitored so they do not become a ‘new family member’ that reduces the quality of parenting. ‘If parents are absent, the handphone will take over that role because children use it for around 8 to 10 hours a day,’ he said. He added that the spirit of the Gamas movement aligns with the ‘Fathers Collect Report Cards’ (Gemar) programme, which aims to increase paternal involvement in child-rearing, noting that many fathers in Indonesia are busy earning a living but lack awareness of their children’s educational progress.

The Ministry of Population and Family Development has issued Circular Number 17 concerning the Gemar and Gamas programmes for continuous implementation in schools across Indonesia. Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Rini Widyantini welcomed the circular by requesting government agencies to provide work flexibility for civil servants accompanying their children on the first day of school. She said the arrangement is expected to allow civil servants to support their children without compromising professionalism, productivity, or the quality of public services. The appeal was formalised in Ministerial Letter Number B/257/M.KT.02/2026, issued on Friday, 10 July, to support the strengthening of family resilience and the role of families among civil servants.