TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Viral child abuse cases shed light on poor supervision of day care providers
A recent spate of viral child abuse cases has shined a light on day care providers and an urgent need for better government oversight and stringent standards to regulate the childcare industry.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Stock illustration of child neglect (Courtesy of/Sthutterstock)
T
he emergence of alleged incidences of child abuse on social media platforms in recent weeks have put a negative spotlight on childcare services and facilities in the country, sparking public outrage and prompting many to urge the government to set competency standards and tighten oversight.
On Wednesday, a video clip uploaded to the Instagram account of Ayasophia Achmad (@phy_losophy) showed a child with their feet taped to a high chair at a day care center in Pekanbaru, Riau, alleging that the tape was removed only when it was time for the child to go home.
The Pekanbaru Police have named the day care owner, identified only by the initials WF, as a suspect of child abuse after they questioned several witnesses and gathered evidence, including the viral footage.
Earlier this month, the Depok Police in West Java detained the owner of Wensen School Indonesia, identified as MI, and charged her under the 2014 Child Protection Law for allegedly assaulting a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old entrusted to her care at the preschool.
That incident also came to light on social media in two separate video clips reportedly showing MI kicking the toddler and throwing the infant, resulting in injury including joint dislocation.
Read also: Police name Depok preschool owner suspect in viral child abuse case
Child psychologist Annelia Sari Sani pointed to the low standards set for providers as a causal factor of cruel and abusive treatment at childcare facilities, which led to untrained employees resorting to violence in dealing with children exhibiting challenging behavior.
