Yogyakarta City Government Allows Unlicensed Daycares to Remain Open, Provided...
The Yogyakarta City Government has recorded 31 child daycares in its jurisdiction that lack permits. These 31 daycares are allowed to continue operating, provided they immediately process their permits.
Head of the Education, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikpora) of Yogyakarta City, Budi Santosa Asrori, stated that the decision to grant this leniency takes into account the children already placed in these facilities.
“Clearly, we are also considering the community’s situation; if they were closed, where would the children go?” Budi explained when contacted on Friday (1/5/2026).
Budi mentioned that the majority of these unlicensed daycares actually meet the requirements in terms of facilities. However, while their permits are being processed, the operations of the daycares will remain under supervision.
Budi did not specify a deadline for the daycares to obtain permits. However, his office, along with relevant agencies, is facilitating the permitting process to complete it as quickly as possible.
“I don’t know why they haven’t obtained permits, but they actually meet the requirements. Those without permits are mostly kindergartens; the kindergartens are licensed, but the daycares are not—the daycare is an additional service,” he explained.
“We have invited all of them and asked them to immediately process their permits; we are coordinating with the Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP) and the Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning Office (DP3AP2KB),” Budi said.
Previously, the Yogyakarta City Government immediately moved to record all daycares in Yogyakarta after this issue came to light. The recorded daycares were then inspected to check the completeness of their permits.
Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo stated there are 68 daycares in Yogyakarta City. However, 31 of them do not yet hold permits.
“As of today, the total recorded is 68 daycares. Of the 68, 37 are officially permitted, and the others are not yet permitted,” Hasto said at the Yogyakarta City Government Complex, Tuesday (28/4).
Hasto explained that on average, these unlicensed daycares are within the scope of kindergartens or early childhood education (PAUD). They only hold operational permits for kindergartens or PAUD.
“In other words, these institutions are kindergartens or PAUD, and they also open daycares. The kindergarten should have a permit, the PAUD should have a permit, and the daycare should also have a permit. But they do not yet have the (daycare) permit,” Hasto elaborated.