Comparative Analysis of Facilities and Infrastructure in Urban and Rural Early Childhood Education Centers (TPA) in Indonesia Toward Achieving Quality Early Childhood Education (PAUD)

Abstract

Facilities and infrastructure are important telements in supporting early childhood learning in Child Care Parks (TPA) to create quality PAUD. Despite numerous policies regulating standards for Early Childhood Education (ECE) facilities in Indonesia, limited empirical studies have examined how the availability and management of such facilities at the institutional level contribute to children’s holistic growth and development. This gap highlights the need for context-based analysis that connects regulatory standards with actual implementation practices in specific TPA settings. This research aims to analyze the availability and management of facilities and infrastructure at Ibnu Mas'ud TPA, with a focus on their contribution to children's growth and development. The approach used is descriptive qualitative, through interviews, observation, and documentation. The results of the research show that the facilities and infrastructure for early childhood learning at Ibnu Mas'ud TPA are generally classified as good, meaning that the provision of facilities is in accordance with the 2015 operational guidelines for the establishment of TPA. The facilities and infrastructure at Ibnu Mas'ud TPA include learning spaces such as the environment and buildings, learning infrastructure, supporting facilities, indoor and outdoor Educational Game Equipment (EGE), as well as maintenance and supervision mechanisms. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on how compliance with national facility standards translates into practical support for early childhood learning quality at the institutional level. Furthermore, the findings offer practical implications for policymakers and TPA managers in strengthening facility planning, management, and service improvement strategies to enhance the overall quality of PAUD services. However, it is necessary to provide additional facilities to further improve the quality and services at the TPA.