When the State Begins to Take Childcare Seriously: Bitter Lessons from Child Abuse Cases

The government is moving quickly to address issues with child daycare centres, which have recently come under scrutiny due to emerging cases of child abuse. The violence occurring in these facilities is not merely temporary physical injuries but also triggers deep psychological trauma. Daycare centres should ideally serve as safe and comfortable places for children while their parents work, rather than becoming sources of fear and trauma. The revelation of a child abuse case at the “Little Aresha” daycare in Yogyakarta has prompted the government to take decisive action to protect children. Moreover, the daycare raided by police on Friday (24/4/2026) lacked a permit. “From a governance perspective, around 20 percent of daycares do not have SOPs, and 66.7 percent of the managing staff are uncertified. Meanwhile, 12 percent have registration marks and 13.3 percent are legally incorporated,” said Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi in a written statement on Sunday (26/4/2026). Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno revealed that the government is developing plans to integrate daycare licensing into a single system. “Yes (in one system). That’s why one of the quick initiatives is the integrated information system portal,” Pratikno stated at the Coordinating Ministry office in Central Jakarta on Thursday (30/4/2026). Pratikno noted that most daycares are managed by private entities or communities. The government, according to Pratikno, does not object to this and strongly supports community participation in establishing daycares. “So we are committed to ensuring that daycare services meet societal needs, but the most important thing is to maintain their quality and standards,” he said. However, licensing for establishing daycares must be clear to safeguard children’s safety. Through integration into a single system, the central government will provide guidance for obtaining permits to establish a daycare.