Nurturing Children from an Early Age

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.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The competitive and superior Indonesia of the future is in the hands of 79.55 million children who will lead the nation in 2045. It is therefore vital to prepare children from an early age by teaching them the values of statehood, solidarity and nationalism.

"Without this [effort], we will be extremely concerned and anxious. Children may be able to adjust later, but they might fail in guiding themselves, let alone guiding the nation once they have won [public] trust [as leaders]," said Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy on Wednesday (22/7/2020) in Jakarta at the 2020 award ceremony of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA), which was held as part of the National Children\'s Day 2020 commemorative event.