The 2024 International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Development was held earlier this week in Jakarta, organized by the Tanoto Foundation in collaboration with the Indonesian government. Key government partners included the Coordinating Ministry for Cultural Affairs and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).
The symposium addressed a significant gap in Indonesia’s focus on early childhood development (ECD), which is often seen merely in terms of health and nutrition. Experts argue that ECD also involves responsive care, protection, and the need for better coordination among service providers, who often operate in isolation.
Under the theme “Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development,” the event aimed to bring together experts and stakeholders to share research and best practices. Discussions focused on aligning Indonesia’s approach to early childhood development with the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF), also known locally as the Holistic and Integrative Early Childhood Development (PAUD HI) framework.
The NCF is designed to help countries meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to early childhood, such as improving nutrition, reducing infant mortality, ensuring universal access to quality preschool education, and preventing violence and neglect of children.
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi emphasized that the symposium would help guide government policy in the development of the second phase of the National Action Plan for PAUD HI for 2025-2029. This plan will improve services at both national and regional levels, aligning them with international standards.
Arifah highlighted various government initiatives, including the Ruang Bersama Merah Putih program, a joint initiative for protecting women and children in villages, as well as the SAPA 129 hotline and a database for gender and children’s issues.
“The Tanoto Foundation’s initiative in organizing this symposium is a crucial step in strengthening collaboration between the government, society, and international organizations in advancing holistic early childhood development,” Arifah said.
Woro Srihastuti, a deputy at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Capital, also stressed the importance of collaboration, particularly through the Ruang Bersama Merah Putih program. She noted that the PAUD HI measurement tools need reformulation to better assess each component of early childhood development, as the current tool, the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI), is insufficient.
Tanoto Foundation Indonesia’s country head, Inge Kusuma, stressed the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of life for brain development. “Around 80 percent of brain growth happens in the first three years, and key developmental milestones such as language and cognitive skills are most critical in the first year. Delayed intervention during this ‘golden period’ can have lasting negative effects on a child’s future development,” Inge said.
She also noted that while NCF and PAUD HI provide clear guidelines for optimal early childhood development, the challenge lies in the commitment to and execution of these frameworks in Indonesia. Inge hopes the symposium will strengthen stakeholders’ commitment, serve as a knowledge-sharing platform, and boost the implementation of PAUD HI across the country.
The symposium featured speakers from the Coordinating Ministry for Cultural Affairs, Bappenas, the Health Ministry, and the National Nutrition Agency, as well as representatives from international organizations including UNICEF, WHO, The World Bank, ARNEC, and SEAMEO CECCEP, among others.
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