Childcare in Indonesia

Save the Children has released a report titled, "Someone that Matters: The quality of care in childcare institutions in Indonesia", the report is jointly published by the Department of Social Affairs and UNICEF.

It is estimated that up to 500,000 children live in institutions in Indonesia. This equates to almost 0.6% of the estimated 85 million children living in Indonesia. The report looked at only 37 of the estimated 5,000-8,000 childcare institutions that are believed to be operating throughout Indonesia. Most of these institutions are privately run and most are faith-based. The 37 institutions were related in just 6 of Indonesia's provinces. So, in many ways this is nothing more than a snapshot of the very much larger whole childcare industry.

The report looks at the legal and policy framework that regulates childcare institutions. What is truly interesting in this report is the link between the number of children in institutions and poverty. The report states that a mere 6% of the institutional population are orphans. More than 90% of those in these institutions are there because their parents cannot afford to give them the opportunities they deserve. Most parents believe that putting their children in an institution is more likely to ensure that they get an education (or at least a part of an education) and that they get fed.

This parental dream might just be that, as the report is fairly explicit that in a lot of case rules and procedures were not followed and children received minimal if any care. The report concludes by stating what seems to be the obvious and that is that there is a need to limit unnecessary institutionalization and to increase the quality of the services provided to children in care.