Coloring the World of Children

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Children play with a plastic ball in a field in Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (20/7/2020). Children are among highly vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 global health crisis, which has prompted major changes in their lives and created a strange new world for them. Many are no longer free to go to school, study face-to-face with their teachers or play and socialize with their friends as they remain at home for their own safety.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for children. All efforts must be taken to ensure that children are always happy and grow well in their colorful world.

Although there are still many challenges, Indonesia has made a significant leap in improving the welfare of children. According to a report by the United Nations Organization for Children (Unicef) issued in May 2020, the quality of life of about 80 million children in Indonesia has showed significant progress.

In the field of education, school graduation rates increased sharply from 1990 to 2017 with more than 95 percent of children able to complete primary education. Access to education has also increased especially in primary education.

Also read: Nurturing Children from an Early Age

The infant mortality rate fell by more than half from 1990 to 2017 while the child mortality rate fell by two-thirds during the same period. Social services for children have also improved through the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) social assistance programs.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic risks eradicating the progress made in the education and health fields and in child protection. The pandemic, which has contributed to a multidimensional crisis, has changed the lives of children.

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

An early childhood education (PAUD) class is held for one hour with strict health protocols at community unit (RW) 022 in Kampung Rawa Pasung, West Bekasi district, Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (22/7/2020). The small community has been implementing its own measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for the three months. Messages about health and hygiene adorn the walls of narrow alleyways in the densely populated residential area. Residents donate free food packages for neighbors in need and provide a quarantine area for those affected by COVID-19.

Online learning has the potential to limit access to education for children from poor families. Prolonged absence from school can reduce children’s ability to memorize learning materials.

Yet online learning can be effective, said the director of the education and religion department at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Amich Alhumami.

Amich said online learning had worsened the quality of learning outcomes. The ability of students to retain learning materials has also decreased.

In addition to government support for teachers to be able to effectively teach students, cooperation between teachers and parents is also needed.

The key to resolving this problem lies in the way the teacher gives the learning materials and in the support provided by parents while the child studies at home. In addition to government support for teachers to be able to effectively teach students, cooperation between teachers and parents is also needed.

Also read: Nurturing Children from an Early Age

Cooperation between teachers and parents is important to help children access the internet properly. Increased internet access during online learning also puts children at risk of sexual exploitation.

Poverty

Students from poor families are at high risk of dropping out of school because government assistance can only cover the direct costs of education.

More than 50 percent of school dropouts are a result of the economic problem. The pandemic will further worsen the situation. Before the pandemic, the dropout rate among children aged between 7 and 18 years was 7 percent, or about 4.33 million children.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

An early childhood education (PAUD) class is held for one hour with strict health protocols at community unit (RW) 022 in Kampung Rawa Pasung, West Bekasi district, Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (22/7/2020). The small community has been implementing its own measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for the three months. Messages about health and hygiene adorn the walls of narrow alleyways in the densely populated residential area. Residents donate free food packages for neighbors in need and provide a quarantine area for those affected by COVID-19.

Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of poor people in Indonesia increased by 1.63 million people from September 2019 to March 2020 (Kompas, 16/7/2020). A World Vision study in nine countries in Asia, including Indonesia, indicates that the livelihoods of more than 60 percent of the families were severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those of laborers.

The job loss that hit poor families has a negative impact on children\'s well-being. A World Vision study in Asia on the impact of the pandemic also shows 52 percent of households whose economies are affected by the pandemic choose cheaper and less nutritious food. Unicef estimates that the number of malnourished and stunted children will increase during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This has increased the vulnerability of children to contagious diseases, including Covid-19.

Job loss also limits access to basic health services and sanitation facilities, especially for the poor. This has increased the vulnerability of children to contagious diseases, including Covid-19.

Children whose parents have lost their jobs due to the crisis are also at risk of violence. The study shows that 32 percent of children in urban areas in Indonesia been punished by parents in the past month. The research was published on July 7, 2020.

Child protection is getting more important because they have to help overcome the family\'s economic problems by working or getting married at an early age. The closure of schools increases the likelihood that children will experience violence at home.

Children’s rights

Investment and policies that focus on poor families will prevent a crisis caused by the pandemic becoming a greater humanitarian crisis that will severely affect children. The government must ensure that children get access to education, health and protection. Amich said Bappenas ensured that in 2021 the government would increase the number of children who will receive the KIP smart card aid program.

Around 20 million children at all levels of school have received cash assistance under the KIP smart card program. About 25 percent of them come from poor families. The children of poor families also get PKH cash assistance, which is provided by the Social Affairs Ministry.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Children are taught how to wash their hands properly during a 2020 National Children\'s Day celebration with the theme, Protected Children, Advanced Indonesia. The event was organized and hosted by the Sidoarjo Police in the Pepelegi village hall, Waru district, Sidoarjo, East Java, on Wednesday (22/7/2020). The celebration was held under strict health protocols and featured children singing as well as information about COVID-19 and how to prevent it.===Children play on a vacant plot of land without wearing a mask in Kebon Nanas, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (22/7/2020). Children drive out their boredom by playing outside, despite being prone to contracting COVID-19.

Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said the government was committed to tackling the pandemic. "Our priority is the health of students, teachers and parents. Online learning is intended to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in schools and colleges," he said.

"Nature teaches the children about earthquakes, like an explosion that throws a rocket into space. This pandemic is like an explosion that is the momentum of the rise of Indonesian education," added Nadiem.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhajir Effendy stressed the importance of instilling values of nationality and solidarity in children. "Inside the child there is a black box whose contents are unknown. Because, within a child is a complex situation, both mental and conscious. Parents need to prepare their children to be able to adapt and know the direction of their lives," he said.

According to Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, National Children\'s Day, which falls today (23 July), is an opportunity to remind all parties to protect children. "Give joy to all children," he said. (YOVITA ARIKA/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR)