Ministry Advances Childcare Quality via Foster Care Certification Program

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The alleged case of violence at a daycare in Yogyakarta has once again exposed a fundamental weakness in Indonesia’s childcare services: inadequate standards and oversight of childcare institutions.

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi, said the incident should serve as momentum to accelerate system improvements through the implementation of Child-Friendly Foster Care (TARA) certification, in line with Ministerial Regulation No. 4/2024.

She strongly condemned violence against children and stressed that legal action must be carried out firmly and transparently.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the child victims and their families. Child protection is our collective responsibility, and any form of violence against children is unacceptable. The state must ensure victims are protected, and perpetrators are prosecuted,” Arifah said on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as quoted by Infopublik.id.

Minister Arifah noted that the case highlights the urgent need to strengthen daycare supervision. The government is pushing for licensing evaluations and higher service standards.

The ministry, in collaboration with local administrations and stakeholders, is providing psychosocial support to victims and their families, while also evaluating daycare supervision and licensing systems. Efforts include improving public education, strengthening complaint mechanisms, and enhancing rapid response systems.

Minister Arifah emphasized that protecting the rights of working mothers is inseparable from fulfilling children’s rights. “When a mother works, the priority is ensuring her child continues to receive safe, proper, and quality care,” she said.

Through Law No. 4/2024 on Maternal and Child Welfare, the state guarantees comprehensive support for mothers and children from pregnancy through parenting, including childcare services. However, the rapidly growing demand for daycare has not been matched by adequate quality.

The ministry reported several persistent problems: 44 percent of daycare centers lack permits or legal status; only 30.7 percent hold operational permits; 12 percent have registration certificates; and 13.3 percent are legal entities. Governance issues include the absence of standard operating procedures in 20 percent of centers and the presence of uncertified managers in 66.7 percent.

To address these challenges, the government is promoting the TARA program, which emphasizes child-rights-based care, improved caregiver competency, and the adoption of a code of ethics for child safeguarding.

Psychosocial support continues to be provided to victims and their families to ensure recovery. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a more integrated child protection system to prevent similar cases.

The public is also encouraged to play an active role by reporting suspected cases of violence against children so they can be addressed swiftly and effectively. ***