Yogyakarta Regional Government Swiftly Re-Surveys Daycare Centres in Yogyakarta City
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) local government is taking swift action to conduct a re-survey of daycare centres in Yogyakarta City, primarily regarding the licensing of these child care institutions.
Head of the DIY Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control Agency (DP3APP), Erlina Hidayati Sumardi, in Yogyakarta on Sunday, stated that this step follows the police raid on Little Aresha Daycare on Friday (24/4) due to suspected violence against children.
“We, along with the Yogyakarta City Agency, have swiftly conducted a re-survey of existing daycare centres in the city. We have also requested other districts to do the same,” she said.
She added that the DIY local government will also coordinate with the Education Agency regarding supervision and socialisation, with the hope that operating daycare centres are licensed and monitored.
“For those already licensed, we are currently encouraging them to meet standards. The standards applied are for child-friendly child care facilities,” she said.
She explained that these standards include facilities, infrastructure, standard operating procedures (SOPs), structure, and qualifications of human resources (HR).
“In addition, facilities are inspected in detail, such as room conditions, safety of furniture corners, to environmental suitability,” she said.
According to her, all of this aims to ensure that child care places meet the requirements for good child growth and development and do not endanger children.
“Standardisation also includes child protection mechanisms, including HR qualifications,” she said.
Regarding Little Aresha Daycare, she said that based on the information received, the daycare is not yet licensed, so supervision, surveying, and reporting from the community or respective authorities are needed.
“If there is an institution like a daycare that operates, it should be asked whether it is licensed or not, so it can be reported immediately if it does not meet the requirements,” she said.
According to her, licensing is under the Education Agency, so a re-survey is needed. For those not yet licensed and with reports, a quick response must be taken so they are not allowed to operate.
“Parents should also ensure whether the child care place is licensed or not. This can be checked through the Education Agency’s website or by asking DP3APP DIY,” she said.