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  • Unlocking Indonesia’s Golden Potential: The critical role of Early Childhood Education and Development

    Unlocking Indonesia’s Golden Potential: The critical role of Early Childhood Education and Development

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    One in four Indonesian children is stunted. Caused by malnutrition, the real problem with stunting is not its impact on height, but rather on a child’s brain development. Stunted children are susceptible to long-term developmental delays and weakened immune systems. The implications on health, academic success and economic opportunities cast a shadow on these children forever.

    Despite the global pandemic, and disruption to essential healthcare services and vaccination delivery, Indonesia has managed to reduce its stunting rate from 31 percent in 2018 to 24 percent in 2021. What has gone right and what can we do more of?

    While stunting can be prevented, it is a complex issue requiring a multidisciplinary solution and collaboration across different stakeholders. With the launch of the National Strategy to Accelerate Stunting Prevention (StraNas Stunting) in 2017, the government mobilized US$14.6 billion to converge health, nutrition and early-childhood interventions across 23 government ministries and agencies.

    Coordinating efforts requires real-time, individualized data; regular surveys; and comprehensive-monitoring systems. Partnering with the World Bank, Tanoto Foundation published a dashboard with key metrics related to the child’s first 1,000 days. This serves as a central database for different organizations and government entities to not only better target and coordinate programs at the household level, but also to replicate and scale up impactful solutions.

    The provincial governments play a pivotal role in allocating and approving budgets for health and nutrition initiatives. To better coordinate, harmonize and scale up behavioral-change communication programs across districts and municipalities, we embarked on a project with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide technical assistance to provincial governments in this regard.

    To further accelerate stunting prevention and reduction, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo earlier this year appointed the National Population and Planning Agency (BKKBN) to serve as the bridge between all other agencies and ministries, with an aim to fast-track the implementation of government programs on the ground.

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    Parents play a major role in their children’s health and wellbeing. A combination of equipping parents with research-backed information and public-health campaigns emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding, complementary feeding, good sanitation and hygiene practices and vaccinations have helped reduce stunting.

    With increased awareness, what was previously an “invisible problem” to most parents and policymakers became obvious. Coupled with regular nudges, counseling and monitoring through posyandu (integrated community health posts) and home visits, parents are able to develop and sustain good habits.

    Building on these outreach programs for parents, the foundation leveraged on existing infrastructure and developed training modules and systems to equip 600,000 family support team members (TPK) and 39,000 social workers from the conditional-cash transfer program (Pendamping Sosial PKH) with the skills to address stunting in their programs.

    The rapid advancement of technology is also an opportunity to empower parents. Parents can now easily access important information on child development, as well as consult experts from their mobile phone. There is a growing list of such apps and platforms, for example Tentang Anak, Teman Bumil and Primaku, that are now widely available.

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    Given Indonesia’s diversity, programs to tackle stunting have to be customized based on local conditions.

    The main causes of stunting and resources available locally vary from region to region. Reducing the stunting rate further would require local leaders and communities to innovate. The good news is that local communities are taking the lead to think out-of-the-box.

    One such example is dentist and head of the local community-health center in East Kalimantan, Rika Puspita. She found a way to reduce stunting prevalence by effectively merging two existing programs, namely the maternal health and child-nutrition program, by using an innovative “clustering” system. Before, the mother-child dyad was clustered by administrative function. In the new format, pregnant women, mothers and children are grouped according to needs and local characteristics.

    As a result, health professionals can provide more intensive counselling to at-risk families and data is collected in a more systematic and timely manner. The outcome speaks for itself. Data collection for the Bukuan community where this new clustering takes place now takes around three months, as compared to other regions which can take up to two years. Better data collection enables better decision-making and more targeted intervention, therefore expediting the action that has to be taken to reduce stunting.

    Going forward, we have to double down on our investment in health and nutrition programs. While Indonesia has regulations relating to food fortification, more can be done in its implementation. The linkage between social protection and food fortification should be further strengthened. Campaigns on breastfeeding and complementary feeding must continue and reach the poorest and most vulnerable communities.

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    Our approach to tackle stunting must also be holistic, covering stimulation, health and nutrition. We have to continue to improve the quality of early-childhood education, starting at home with responsive caregiving and good parenting. Parents should instil a love of reading in their children from a young age, as well as provide a nurturing and safe environment for their children.

    At the national and sub-national levels, more can be done to strengthen policies, programs and services. Multiple stakeholders including organizations such as ours, non-profits, corporates and the government have to work hand-in-hand. With our collective knowledge and experiences, we can leverage each other’s work to create an enabling environment for our children to thrive in.

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  • Tanoto Foundation, KemenkoPMK, KemenPPN, and KemenPPPA Enhance Early Childhood Development and Education in Indonesia Through an International Symposium

    Tanoto Foundation, KemenkoPMK, KemenPPN, and KemenPPPA Enhance Early Childhood Development and Education in Indonesia Through an International Symposium

    Jakarta, November 20, 2024 – Attention to early childhood development and education in Indonesia remains far from the ideal. Early childhood is a critical foundation for children’s future success and human capital development, which can break the cycle of poverty and boost economic productivity.

    Quality development and education are fundamental rights of every child. These rights must be fulfilled from an early age to ensure children grow and develop optimally, without exception. Their fulfillment also has a profound impact on fostering inclusive and sustainable societal development.

    In Indonesia, early childhood development and education face numerous challenges. Awareness of the interconnected needs of young children remains low. Many still perceive early childhood development merely as a health and nutrition issue. In fact, young children require responsive caregiving, adequate stimulation, and protection. Additionally, the coordination among service providers across multiple sectors has yet to be optimized, with services often segmented by sectoral interests rather than being holistic and integrated.

    These challenges underscore the collaboration among the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK), the Ministry of National Development

    Planning/Bappenas, and Tanoto Foundation in organizing the **International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Development 2024** in Jakarta on November 20, 2024.

    With the theme “Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development (Holistic and Integrated Early Childhood Development)”, the symposium aims to gather experts and stakeholders to share knowledge, the latest research findings, and best practices. It also seeks to align thoughts and program planning for early childhood development and education based on the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF), known in Indonesia as Holistic and Integrated Early Childhood Development (PAUD HI).

    The NCF also serves as a tool to assist countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to early childhood, such as improving nutrition, reducing infant mortality rates, providing universal access to quality preschool education, and preventing violence and neglect of children.

    “This international symposium is expected to guide government policies in drafting the second phase of the National Action Plan (RAN) for Holistic and Integrated Early Childhood Development (PAUD HI) for the 2025-2029 period. This plan will serve as a framework for providing services at both the national and regional levels, ensuring better quality and alignment with international standards,” said Arifah Fauzi, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, during the opening of the International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Development 2024.

    Arifah explained that her ministry currently implements several flagship programs, such as the Ruang Bersama Merah Putih, a platform for fulfilling the rights and protection of women and children at the village level; the SAPA 129 call center for violence against women and children; and the **One Gender and Child Data** initiative. These programs also target early childhood.

    “We extend our appreciation to Tanoto Foundation for initiating this symposium. We hope this event becomes a pivotal moment to strengthen synergies between the government, society, and international organizations in supporting holistic and integrated early childhood development,” Arifah added.

    Woro Srihastuti, Deputy for the Coordination of Quality Improvement of Children, Women, and Youth at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, emphasized the potential for inter-agency synergy through the Ruang Bersama Merah Putih platform.

    “Mechanisms for its implementation in 2025-2029 will be prepared. One key aspect is redefining the measurement instruments for PAUD HI. Currently, there is only the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI). We need additional derivations of ECDI to enable each institution to measure the various components of PAUD HI,” Woro elaborated.

    During the same event, Inge Kusuma, Country Head of Tanoto Foundation Indonesia, highlighted the significance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as the period of the fastest brain development, which cannot be replicated later in life.

    “Eighty percent of brain development occurs in the first three years, with peak sensory, auditory, language, and cognitive development happening in the first year. If we fail to intervene during this golden period, the impact on a child’s future will be significant and may hinder their development in later stages of life,” Inge noted.

    “NCF and PAUD HI have provided clear guidelines to ensure optimal growth and development for young children. The challenge lies in our commitment and implementation in Indonesia. We hope

    this symposium strengthens the commitment of all stakeholders, serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, and enhances the implementation of PAUD HI,” Inge concluded.

    The symposium, involving government officials, academics, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, practitioners, and media representatives, is expected to build a foundation for raising awareness among stakeholders about early childhood development. Together, they aim to make early childhood development a national development agenda priority.

    Speakers at the event included representatives from Kemenko PMK, KemenPPN/Bappenas, KemenKes, the National Nutrition Agency, UNICEF EAPRO, UNICEF Indonesia, WHO, The World Bank, ARNEC, SEAMEO CECCEP, Ishk Tolaram, Tulodo, UPTD PPA Depok, and Tanoto Foundation.

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    About Tanoto Foundation

    Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization in the field of education, founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, based on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to realize their full potential. Tanoto Foundation’s programs are founded on the conviction that quality education accelerates equal opportunities. We strive to unlock potential and improve lives through quality education, from early childhood to productive ages. Tanoto Foundation’s three pillars of commitment are enhancing learning environments, developing future leaders, and facilitating medical research.

    For more information, please contact:

    Tanoto Foundation Communications Team

    Email: communications@tanotofoundation.org

    Website: www.tanotofoundation.org

    Ko Zin Thet

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  • Bincang Inspiratif: Nutrition and Nurturing Care for Child’s Development

    Bincang Inspiratif: Nutrition and Nurturing Care for Child’s Development

    Indonesia’s third president, the late BJ Habibie stood at 162 cm tall. To many Indonesian parents, Habibie is a testament that someone’s height does not necessarily define their capabilities. But this notion might cause more harm than good, especially if it leads parents to be lax in ensuring their child’s development.

    Height is one of the most obvious ways to detect of stunting, which is detrimental for a child’s physical and brain development. A child is stunted if their height is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards median.

    “Lack of nutrition does not only affect a child’s height, but also their intelligence,” said Dr Margareta Komalasari, SpA, a pediatrician. According to Dr Margareta, not many parents understand that malnutrition does not only hinder a child’s physical growth but also their brain development as well.

    In the latest episode of Bincang Inspiratif by Tanoto Foundation, Dr Margareta spoke to host Andrea Lee about the importance of nutrition and nurturing care to a child’s brain development. This episode covers:

    • – The significance of the first 1,000 days of life
    • – Complementary food for baby
    • – Role of nurturing care in child’s development

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CU9vkq5K6NK/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tanotofoundation.org&rp=%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fbincang-inspiratif-nutrition-and-nurturing-care-for-childs-development%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1343%2C%22ls%22%3A1134%2C%22le%22%3A1294%7D

    The first 1,000 days of life

    Ensuring a child’s development does not only start from the day they are born, but from the early days of pregnancy. The first 1,000 days of life, a period between early pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, have an everlasting impact on a child’s growth and development. Early childhood care is even more crucial considering the fact that a child’s brain reaches 80% of its adult size by the age of three and 90% by the age of five.

    “A child’s development is influenced by two factors: genetics and environment, including nutrition,” said Dr Margareta. “Hence, it’s important for expecting mothers to fulfill both macro and micronutrients that are needed for the fetus’s development.”

    Macronutrients, consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, are needed in large doses. Proteins are particularly important for brain development.

    Micronutrients, on the other hand, are only needed in small doses. But deficiencies of micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, could have detrimental effects both in the short and long term.

    According to Dr Margareta, an expecting mother needs roughly an extra 300 calories per day, and she cautioned against recent trends in which pregnant women avoid eating too much to avoid significant weight gain.

    “It’s normal to gain weight during pregnancy. However, too much is also not good for your baby,” said Dr Margareta. “Generally speaking, the weight gain during pregnancy should not exceed 16 kg to avoid gestational diabetes or hypertension.”

    Introducing complementary food

    A newborn baby should be breastfed exclusively until they are six months old. Then, parents can introduce weaning food to their diet. WHO recommends that parents introduce pureed, mashed, and semi-solid food before gradually increasing the quantity and consistency of the food until the child’s first birthday.

    “It’s important that these foods remain complementary and that parents should care about the nutrition and the texture of the food itself to prevent choking,” said Dr Margareta. She also said that in the beginning, the baby should not consume too many vegetables as these might hinder nutrition absorption. Fruits should also be limited as they are sugary, which might lead the baby to refusing less-sweet food.

    While many parents are cooking weaning food from scratch, buying fortified food is okay too. What matters is that the child gets enough calories and nutrition, according to Dr Margareta.

    More than just food: The significance of nurturing care

    “A child does not just sit and eat,” said Dr Margareta. “They also need love and a stimulating environment as well.”

    The latter two are known as nurturing care, which is crucial to ensuring a child’s early childhood development according to the Unlocking Children’s Potential to Learn report by Filantropi Indonesia and Tanoto Foundation.

    According to Dr Margareta, nutrition alone is not enough. To ensure that a child is growing and developing optimally, parents should also provide enough stimulation especially during the golden age.

    While the pandemic has limited the activities that parents and children can do, Dr Margareta suggested that parents just need to be creative. Parents can still ask children to play catch or learn to ride a bicycle to train their rough motor skills and accompany them to draw or play with playdough to enhance their fine motoric skills.

    “When they’re in their copying phase, facilitate their creativity and let them play pretend at home,” said Dr Margareta.

    Even more crucially, parents have to help children build their self-confidence by supporting them and to not speak in a condescending manner. “Our offhand comments or criticisms might affect them profoundly. Speak with love and believe in them,” said Dr Margareta.

    “Remember, all kinds of support from nutrition to nurturing care must be integrated to ensure optimal growth and development,” she summed up.

    Ko Zin Thet

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