Latest news with #QRIS
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Age of Asean: Building trust in Southeast Asia's digital future
As Asean is positioning to be the heart of digital economy, fostering trust is key in reaping the benefits of growing digitalisation and further empowering the vulnerable segments of the population. In the bustling streets of Jakarta, 50-year-old Siti sits behind her food stall, where the aroma and sizzle of fried rice and grilled satay mingles with the hum of passing motorbikes. With a range of digital food delivery and e-commerce platforms helping her connect with more customers, business has never been better. Siti is just one of 70 million micro entrepreneurs driving economic growth in the Asean region. Over the last two decades, the region has seen its real GDP grow by five per cent annually, reaching US$3.8 trillion. in 2023, making it the fifth-largest economy globally. With digitalisation empowering microenterprises like Siti's, it is no surprise that Asean's digital economy is poised to reach almost US$2 trillion by 2030. A foundational piece of this growing digital economy is the proliferation of instant payment systems (IPS), more recently, the rapid adoption of low-cost national QR payment channels. From Indonesia's QRIS to Cambodia's KHQR and Thailand's PromptPay, Asean has swiftly adopted the digital way to pay, with the share of digital payments to gross transaction volume already surpassing cash with just 48 per cent in 2022 to about 56 per cent in 2024. With payments transmitted directly to the merchant's digital accounts, microenterprises can now easily manage their books, helping them monitor the growth of their business. Asean continues to make strides in building and expanding cross-border QR payment linkages. Through the commitment and hard work of the Asean Working Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (WC-PSS), several Asean countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – are now able to conduct cross-border QR payment or person-to-person funds transfers. This translates into bigger business opportunities for microenterprises. Yet despite the increasing digital savviness, microenterprises still face hurdles in accessing much-needed financing. This is exacerbated by microenterprises' mistrust in the digital ecosystem due to cases of fraud, hidden fees, and lack of recourse, which could potentially undermine their growth. In Indonesia, for example, only 41 per cent of merchants using QRIS completed at least one transaction per month, and 18 per cent remained dormant, largely due to trust erosion from unexpected charges and unresolved disputes. It is therefore imperative to build and ensure MSMEs' continued trust in digital payments and the broader financial ecosystem. The United Nations' Better Than Cash Alliance's Trust Quotient Policy Toolkit, which was developed together with the Asean Working Committee on Financial Inclusion (WC-FINC) and noted by Asean Ministers and Central Bank Governors, reflects the region's collective commitment to this vision. Focusing on fraud, hidden fees, and lack of recourse, the Trust Quotient Policy Toolkit provides policy and regulatory recommendations to promote clear pricing, accessible dispute resolution, and transparent data practices, which will then help ensure micro-merchants confidently adopt digital payments in a safer, more accountable ecosystem. Ensuring quick and seamless recourse mechanisms, particularly for small-value disputes, is critical for fostering trust as delays or unresolved issues can significantly damage confidence. Programmes such as the 'BOB' (BSP Online Buddy) chatbot initiative by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showcase how technology can simplify dispute resolution and build trust. Similarly, the Philippines' Paleng-QR Ph and Indonesia's QRIS SIAP have helped merchants through financial literacy, streamlined tools, and responsive support. Simplified data privacy disclosures can further empower merchants to navigate digital systems confidently. Moreover, integrating support for digital financial services into existing MSME development programmes can be transformative. Indonesia's Jakpreneur program, for instance, onboards merchants to digital platforms but also provides training in financial literacy and business management. For Siti, the success of her business relies not just on the convenience of digital payments but her trust in continued use of digital payments which grants her a formal financial history. By addressing challenges such as hidden fees, lack of recourse, and data privacy concerns, Asean can ensure that entrepreneurs like Siti feel confident in trusting and embracing digital transformation and ensure that no enterprise is left behind.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
- The Age of ASEAN: Building Trust in Southeast Asia's Digital Future
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. As ASEAN is positioning to be the heart of digital economy, fostering trust is key in reaping the benefits of growing digitalisation and further empowering the vulnerable segments of the population. Siti is just one of 70 million micro entrepreneurs driving economic growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Over the last two decades, the region has seen its real GDP grow by 5 per cent annually, reaching US$3.8 trillion in 2023, making it the fifth-largest-economy globally. With a range of digital food delivery and e-commerce platforms helping her connect with more customers, business has never been better. While Siti still accepts cash, these digital apps have made it easier for customers to pay, and for Siti to manage her finances and bookkeeping, with a simple tap on her phone. In the bustling streets of Jakarta, 50-year-old Siti (name changed) sits behind her food stall, where the aroma and sizzle of fried rice and grilled satay mingles with the hum of passing motorbikes. With digitalisation empowering microenterprises like Siti's, it is no surprise that ASEAN's digital economy is poised to reach almost US$2 trillion by 20230. A foundational piece of this growing digital economy is the proliferation of instant payment systems (IPS) and, more recently, the rapid adoption of low-cost national QR payment channels. From Indonesia's QRIS to Cambodia's KHQR and Thailand's PromptPay, ASEAN has swiftly adopted the digital way to pay, with the share of digital payments to gross transaction volume already surpassing cash with just 48 per cent in 2022 to about 56 per cent in 2024. With payments transmitted directly to the merchant's digital accounts, microenterprises can now easily manage their books, helping them monitor the growth of their business. ASEAN continues to make strides in building and expanding cross-border QR payment linkages. Through the commitment and hard work of the ASEAN Working Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (WC-PSS), several ASEAN countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam – are now able to conduct cross-border QR payment or person-to-person funds transfers. This means that financial processes that used to take days are now completed within minutes, enabling remittances, business payments including e-commerce, and tourism-linked transactions. This translates into bigger business opportunities for microenterprises. Advancing digital payments and finance platforms – which is also reflected in the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap, and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) – is a testament of ASEAN's collective vision for inclusive digital growth and increased accessibility especially for the smallest businesses, offering a more seamless system that lowers barriers to entry and reduces operational costs. Trust - Integral to Fostering Inclusion Digital payments clearly serve as an entry point to broader financial services that help boost productivity and incomes for microenterprises. Yet, despite the increasing digital savviness, microenterprises still face hurdles in accessing much-needed financing. This is exacerbated by microenterprises' mistrust in the digital ecosystem due to cases of fraud, hidden fees, and lack of recourse, which could potentially undermine their growth. In Indonesia, for example, only 41 per cent of merchants using QRIS completed at least one transaction per month, and 18 per cent remained dormant, largely due to trust erosion from unexpected charges and unresolved disputes. It is therefore imperative to build and ensure MSMEs' continued trust in digital payments and the broader financial ecosystem. The United Nations' Better Than Cash Alliance's Trust Quotient Policy Toolkit, which was developed together with the ASEAN Working Committee on Financial Inclusion (WC-FINC) and noted by ASEAN Ministers and Central Bank Governors, reflects the region's collective commitment to this vision. The toolkit is testimony to the key role of policies and regulations as nascent IPS are being built and connected across borders. Focusing on fraud, hidden fees, and lack of recourse, the Trust Quotient Policy Toolkit provides policy and regulatory recommendations to promote clear pricing, accessible dispute resolution, and transparent data practices, which will then help ensure micro-merchants confidently adopt digital payments in a safer, more accountable ecosystem. Ensuring quick and seamless recourse mechanisms, particularly for small-value disputes, is critical for fostering trust as delays or unresolved issues can significantly damage confidence. Programmes such as the 'BOB' (BSP Online Buddy). chatbot initiative by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showcase how technology can simplify dispute resolution and build trust. Similarly, the Philippines' Paleng-QR Ph and Indonesia's QRIS SIAP have helped merchants through financial literacy, streamlined tools, and responsive support. Simplified data privacy disclosures can further empower merchants to navigate digital systems confidently. Moreover, integrating support for digital financial services into existing MSME development programmes can be transformative. Indonesia's Jakpreneur programme, for instance, onboards merchants to digital platforms but also provides training in financial literacy and business management. For Siti, the success of her business relies not just on the convenience of digital payments but her trust in continued use of digital payments which grants her a formal financial history. By addressing challenges such as hidden fees, lack of recourse, and data privacy concerns, ASEAN can ensure that entrepreneurs like Siti feel confident in trusting and embracing digital transformation and ensure that no enterprise is left behind. This, in turn, increases her opportunities to access formal credit to grow her business and income. -- BERNAMA Satvinder Singh is Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community. Thomas Beloe is Director, UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub. (The authors acknowledge the valuable inputs provided by the UNDP Bangkok Regional Office for this article.)
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A critical fight over 'quality' child care could shape millions of kids
America's lack of affordable child care has brought a long-simmering question to a boil: What exactly makes child care 'good'? Everyone wants quality care for kids, and the need for child care or preschool to be considered 'high quality' has been embraced by researchers, providers, parents, and policymakers for years. But with rising costs and uneven availability, parents, providers, and policymakers find themselves increasingly divided over whether 'quality' should be measured by caregivers' credentials or by toddlers' happiness, by structured learning outcomes, or by parent preference. Progressives generally champion credentialed and well-paid teachers, academic standards, and standardized ratings as essential for aiding children's development. Conservatives counter that such requirements inflate costs while devaluing the nurturing care that parents and community caregivers provide. The answer to the question of what 'quality' means shapes everything from household budgets to workforce participation to children's school readiness — yet there is no clear consensus on what exactly that entails or how to measure it. 'People know it when they see it, but it's hard to define,' said Josh McCabe, director of social policy at the Niskanen Center think tank. As regulations shift with political winds, the question has become more salient: Who defines quality, and at what cost to kids, families, and society? States have sought ways to measure, improve, and communicate the components of quality to parents and providers alike. Their solution: developing rating systems that attempt to boil aspects of child care settings down into simple metrics, much like hotel or restaurant reviews. Over the past two decades, such Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) have become the primary method for assessing child care quality. These systems, which vary significantly across states, award ratings based on multiple dimensions, including teacher qualifications (such as holding a child development associate credential or a degree in early childhood education); learning environments (including safe teacher-to-child ratios, classroom cleanliness, and availability of age-appropriate books and toys); administrative practices (like documented emergency procedures and business management systems), and the caliber of child-adult interactions (measured through classroom observations). By 2020, nearly all states had implemented some form of QRIS, though participation remains voluntary in many areas. These systems vary widely — some use star ratings (one to five stars), others use tiers or categories. States prioritize different elements: Some emphasize school readiness, others focus on health and safety, cultural responsiveness, or infant and toddler care. Financial incentives also differ, with states offering a variety of supports, technical assistance, and bonuses for higher scores. The evidence is mixed, though, on whether these ratings actually predict better outcomes for children. 'If we're looking at what supports children's well-being and development, it's the quality of the interactions, the relations with the caregiver,' Steven Barnett, senior director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, told me. Yet these critical interactions carry relatively little weight in some QRIS systems, overshadowed by structural features that are easier to quantify and less costly to implement. The QRIS ratings nonetheless drive real behavior. 'The scoring matters in that providers and parents react to it,' McCabe said. 'But like the US News and World Report rankings, I don't know if it actually makes them better colleges or students.' A 2019 Department of Education study found that children who attended higher-rated programs according to QRIS did not have better developmental outcomes than those attending lower-rated ones. This echoed earlier research that found that the overall QRIS ratings were less predictive of child learning than a single measure of teacher-child interactions. 'Quality, in some sense, can take many different forms, and perhaps it should, because child care and early learning is not one-size-fits-all.' Hailey Gibbs, associate director of Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress Further research found 'little evidence' that adopting QRIS in Head Start improved quality when measured against the Head Start Program Performance Standards — the quality benchmarks the federal preschool programs must meet. QRIS showed no significant boost to teacher qualifications or teacher-child interactions. More troublingly, research found that QRIS adoption actually increased annual teacher turnover — potentially undermining the very stability that quality programs need. These rating systems can also create a troubling cycle, said Hailey Gibbs, associate director of early childhood policy at the Center for American Progress. Lower-rated programs receive fewer resources, making it even harder for them to improve. Gibbs notes there's 'valid criticism' that QRIS systems often lack cultural sensitivity and tend to disregard the perspectives of enrolled families when adjudicating which programs are good or bad. This fundamental tension — between standardized measurement and the complex, relationship-based reality of quality care — remains at the heart of ongoing debates about how best to ensure positive outcomes for America's youngest children. As sociologist Zach Griffen notes of performance measurement across other sectors like health care and K-12 schooling, quality assessment tools can be 'wildly successful in policy research at the same time as they fall apart in real-world applications.' While the QRIS measure of 'quality' might be contentious, the stakes are high because quality itself does seem to really affect kids' life trajectories. Back in 2000, the National Academies of Sciences published a 600-page report concluding that both nurturing parenting and caregiving relationships were essential for early childhood development, and that well-designed programs could help improve the lives of kids growing up in poverty in particular. Another landmark federal study tracked more than 1,300 children from infancy through adolescence. Emerging from the contentious 'day care wars' of the 1980s over whether maternal employment and non-parental care harmed children, the researchers found that 'higher-quality' care predicted better cognitive and language development. The study highlighted responsive adult-child relationships as the most critical quality factor, with elements like staff ratios and group sizes also playing important roles. These early studies established a foundation for understanding quality, but even today early childhood experts describe different visions. Ruth Friedman, who directed the Office of Child Care during the Biden administration, defines quality as care that ensures safety, engaging activities, and 'nurturing, consistent, and well-compensated caregivers who support development across multiple domains — including language, early math and science, social-emotional, and physical growth,' she told me. Some advocates stress that trained caregivers are essential for building the kind of stable, high-quality workforce that children need. 'All teachers need to have a foundational knowledge of child development…[with] formal education and training in early childhood education,' the Center for American Progress wrote in a 'Quality 101' report published in 2017. Other experts say the growing demand for professional training devalues the kind of care offered by parents, grandparents, and other informal community leaders. 'What we realize [matters] is the quality of the relationship and [that isn't] typically things you can measure in a simple way, like a child-adult ratio,' said Jenet Erickson, a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University and a researcher of maternal and child well-being. 'It's just not as simple as having trained caregivers. … We need more flexibility in who can provide care, so families can say, 'We really like this neighborhood grandmother because of the way she relates to our children, and we're less concerned about whether or not she got a degree in human development.'' There is perhaps more agreement, however, on what constitutes unacceptably poor care. Gibbs identified warning signs that cross cultural boundaries: 'disorganized or unsafe spaces…young children wandering aimlessly.' These align with the National Academies' findings about the lowest-quality settings: caregivers ignoring children's bids for attention, few appropriate toys, and children spending time 'unengaged with adults, other children, or materials.' Finding the balance between acceptable care and parent preferences can be tricky, especially when public funding is involved and lawmakers pursue multiple policy objectives at once, like promoting child development, supporting moms in the workforce, advancing educational equity, and even broader social concerns like reducing crime or increasing GDP. The Center for American Progress has grown somewhat less prescriptive about quality since it published its 'Quality 101' report in 2017. 'Quality, in some sense, can take many different forms, and perhaps it should, because child care and early learning is not one-size-fits-all,' Gibbs told me, noting that some home-based child care options 'are extremely high quality' yet nevertheless are sometimes 'viewed as second tier to school-like center-based care' when it comes to state ratings. The landscape of child care quality measurement appears poised for significant shifts. The Build Back Better Act, proposed during the Biden administration, represented perhaps the most ambitious federal effort to date to elevate child care quality standards nationwide. States would have been required to develop tiered QRIS frameworks aligned with the federal Head Start preschool standards, and mandate child care provider participation in QRIS to receive federal money. Most significantly, payment rates would have been directly linked to quality ratings — so child care programs achieving higher QRIS scores would have received higher reimbursement rates. However, with the transition to a new administration, a fundamentally different approach is emerging, as states move to reduce restrictions conservatives see as driving up costs without improving outcomes or access. This regulatory rollback fits within a broader conservative vision reshaping child care — one that prioritizes less expensive home-based programs over professionally staffed centers, de-emphasizes academic credentials and curricula, and often encourages more mothers to stay home to raise their children. As Idaho Rep. Rod Furniss argued when promoting his deregulation bill, 'perhaps the most important' small business is the home day care, 'where moms can stay home and supplement the household income and watch a few kids.' This approach also aligns with principles outlined in the American Enterprise Institute's 2024 'Three Principles for Conservative Early-Childhood Policy,' which advocated for subsidizing 'lower-cost' options while keeping 'children connected to their families.' Conservatives specifically warn against what they call the 'Bill de Blasio model' — folding early childhood education into the credentialing, unionization, and compensation structure of K-12 teachers. This approach, which many progressive advocates view as essential for stable and quality care, is viewed by many on the right as a recipe for unsustainable costs. As control shifts in Washington, the very definitions of quality that have guided policy for decades may soon change. But the core questions remain unresolved: What matters most in determining quality and how do we capture it? How should we balance measurable outcomes with family preferences? What trade-offs between quality, affordability, and access are Americans prepared to make? And ultimately, what kind of care do American children deserve? This work was supported by a grant from the Bainum Family Foundation. Vox Media had full discretion over the content of this reporting.
Vox
19-05-2025
- General
- Vox
A critical fight over 'quality' child care could shape millions of kids
is a policy correspondent for Vox covering social policy. She focuses on housing, schools, homelessness, child care, and abortion rights, and has been reporting on these issues for more than a decade. America's lack of affordable child care has brought a long-simmering question to a boil: What exactly makes child care 'good'? Everyone wants quality care for kids, and the need for child care or preschool to be considered 'high quality' has been embraced by researchers, providers, parents, and policymakers for years. But with rising costs and uneven availability, parents, providers, and policymakers find themselves increasingly divided over whether 'quality' should be measured by caregivers' credentials or by toddlers' happiness, by structured learning outcomes, or by parent preference. Progressives generally champion credentialed and well-paid teachers, academic standards, and standardized ratings as essential for aiding children's development. Conservatives counter that such requirements inflate costs while devaluing the nurturing care that parents and community caregivers provide. The answer to the question of what 'quality' means shapes everything from household budgets to workforce participation to children's school readiness — yet there is no clear consensus on what exactly that entails or how to measure it. 'People know it when they see it, but it's hard to define,' said Josh McCabe, director of social policy at the Niskanen Center think tank. As regulations shift with political winds, the question has become more salient: Who defines quality, and at what cost to kids, families, and society? Mixed-quality quality metrics States have sought ways to measure, improve, and communicate the components of quality to parents and providers alike. Their solution: developing rating systems that attempt to boil aspects of child care settings down into simple metrics, much like hotel or restaurant reviews. Over the past two decades, such Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) have become the primary method for assessing child care quality. These systems, which vary significantly across states, award ratings based on multiple dimensions, including teacher qualifications (such as holding a child development associate credential or a degree in early childhood education); learning environments (including safe teacher-to-child ratios, classroom cleanliness, and availability of age-appropriate books and toys); administrative practices (like documented emergency procedures and business management systems), and the caliber of child-adult interactions (measured through classroom observations). By 2020, nearly all states had implemented some form of QRIS, though participation remains voluntary in many areas. These systems vary widely — some use star ratings (one to five stars), others use tiers or categories. States prioritize different elements: Some emphasize school readiness, others focus on health and safety, cultural responsiveness, or infant and toddler care. Financial incentives also differ, with states offering a variety of supports, technical assistance, and bonuses for higher scores. The evidence is mixed, though, on whether these ratings actually predict better outcomes for children. 'If we're looking at what supports children's well-being and development, it's the quality of the interactions, the relations with the caregiver,' Steven Barnett, senior director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, told me. Yet these critical interactions carry relatively little weight in some QRIS systems, overshadowed by structural features that are easier to quantify and less costly to implement. The QRIS ratings nonetheless drive real behavior. 'The scoring matters in that providers and parents react to it,' McCabe said. 'But like the US News and World Report rankings, I don't know if it actually makes them better colleges or students.' A 2019 Department of Education study found that children who attended higher-rated programs according to QRIS did not have better developmental outcomes than those attending lower-rated ones. This echoed earlier research that found that the overall QRIS ratings were less predictive of child learning than a single measure of teacher-child interactions. 'Quality, in some sense, can take many different forms, and perhaps it should, because child care and early learning is not one-size-fits-all.' — Hailey Gibbs, associate director of Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress Further research found 'little evidence' that adopting QRIS in Head Start improved quality when measured against the Head Start Program Performance Standards — the quality benchmarks the federal preschool programs must meet. QRIS showed no significant boost to teacher qualifications or teacher-child interactions. More troublingly, research found that QRIS adoption actually increased annual teacher turnover — potentially undermining the very stability that quality programs need. These rating systems can also create a troubling cycle, said Hailey Gibbs, associate director of early childhood policy at the Center for American Progress. Lower-rated programs receive fewer resources, making it even harder for them to improve. Gibbs notes there's 'valid criticism' that QRIS systems often lack cultural sensitivity and tend to disregard the perspectives of enrolled families when adjudicating which programs are good or bad. This fundamental tension — between standardized measurement and the complex, relationship-based reality of quality care — remains at the heart of ongoing debates about how best to ensure positive outcomes for America's youngest children. As sociologist Zach Griffen notes of performance measurement across other sectors like health care and K-12 schooling, quality assessment tools can be 'wildly successful in policy research at the same time as they fall apart in real-world applications.' So what actually is quality? While the QRIS measure of 'quality' might be contentious, the stakes are high because quality itself does seem to really affect kids' life trajectories. Back in 2000, the National Academies of Sciences published a 600-page report concluding that both nurturing parenting and caregiving relationships were essential for early childhood development, and that well-designed programs could help improve the lives of kids growing up in poverty in particular. Another landmark federal study tracked more than 1,300 children from infancy through adolescence. Emerging from the contentious 'day care wars' of the 1980s over whether maternal employment and non-parental care harmed children, the researchers found that 'higher-quality' care predicted better cognitive and language development. The study highlighted responsive adult-child relationships as the most critical quality factor, with elements like staff ratios and group sizes also playing important roles. These early studies established a foundation for understanding quality, but even today early childhood experts describe different visions. Ruth Friedman, who directed the Office of Child Care during the Biden administration, defines quality as care that ensures safety, engaging activities, and 'nurturing, consistent, and well-compensated caregivers who support development across multiple domains — including language, early math and science, social-emotional, and physical growth,' she told me. Some advocates stress that trained caregivers are essential for building the kind of stable, high-quality workforce that children need. 'All teachers need to have a foundational knowledge of child development…[with] formal education and training in early childhood education,' the Center for American Progress wrote in a 'Quality 101' report published in 2017. Other experts say the growing demand for professional training devalues the kind of care offered by parents, grandparents, and other informal community leaders. 'What we realize [matters] is the quality of the relationship and [that isn't] typically things you can measure in a simple way, like a child-adult ratio,' said Jenet Erickson, a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University and a researcher of maternal and child well-being. 'It's just not as simple as having trained caregivers. … We need more flexibility in who can provide care, so families can say, 'We really like this neighborhood grandmother because of the way she relates to our children, and we're less concerned about whether or not she got a degree in human development.'' There is perhaps more agreement, however, on what constitutes unacceptably poor care. Gibbs identified warning signs that cross cultural boundaries: 'disorganized or unsafe spaces…young children wandering aimlessly.' These align with the National Academies' findings about the lowest-quality settings: caregivers ignoring children's bids for attention, few appropriate toys, and children spending time 'unengaged with adults, other children, or materials.' Finding the balance between acceptable care and parent preferences can be tricky, especially when public funding is involved and lawmakers pursue multiple policy objectives at once, like promoting child development, supporting moms in the workforce, advancing educational equity, and even broader social concerns like reducing crime or increasing GDP. The Center for American Progress has grown somewhat less prescriptive about quality since it published its 'Quality 101' report in 2017. 'Quality, in some sense, can take many different forms, and perhaps it should, because child care and early learning is not one-size-fits-all,' Gibbs told me, noting that some home-based child care options 'are extremely high quality' yet nevertheless are sometimes 'viewed as second tier to school-like center-based care' when it comes to state ratings. The future of quality standards The landscape of child care quality measurement appears poised for significant shifts. The Build Back Better Act, proposed during the Biden administration, represented perhaps the most ambitious federal effort to date to elevate child care quality standards nationwide. States would have been required to develop tiered QRIS frameworks aligned with the federal Head Start preschool standards, and mandate child care provider participation in QRIS to receive federal money. Most significantly, payment rates would have been directly linked to quality ratings — so child care programs achieving higher QRIS scores would have received higher reimbursement rates. However, with the transition to a new administration, a fundamentally different approach is emerging, as states move to reduce restrictions conservatives see as driving up costs without improving outcomes or access. This regulatory rollback fits within a broader conservative vision reshaping child care — one that prioritizes less expensive home-based programs over professionally staffed centers, de-emphasizes academic credentials and curricula, and often encourages more mothers to stay home to raise their children. As Idaho Rep. Rod Furniss argued when promoting his deregulation bill, 'perhaps the most important' small business is the home day care, 'where moms can stay home and supplement the household income and watch a few kids.' This approach also aligns with principles outlined in the American Enterprise Institute's 2024 'Three Principles for Conservative Early-Childhood Policy,' which advocated for subsidizing 'lower-cost' options while keeping 'children connected to their families.' Conservatives specifically warn against what they call the 'Bill de Blasio model' — folding early childhood education into the credentialing, unionization, and compensation structure of K-12 teachers. This approach, which many progressive advocates view as essential for stable and quality care, is viewed by many on the right as a recipe for unsustainable costs. As control shifts in Washington, the very definitions of quality that have guided policy for decades may soon change. But the core questions remain unresolved: What matters most in determining quality and how do we capture it? How should we balance measurable outcomes with family preferences? What trade-offs between quality, affordability, and access are Americans prepared to make? And ultimately, what kind of care do American children deserve?
Time Business News
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Top Up FF Termurah & Rank Push Guide: Dominate Free Fire in 2025
Garena Free Fire remains one of the most thrilling battle royale games on mobile, boasting millions of active players and a dynamic ranking system. For seasoned warriors and fresh recruits alike, pushing ranks is a vital part of the Free Fire experience. But to dominate the battlefield, you not only need sharp skills—you also need the best in-game gear. That's why choosing a top up FF termurah (cheapest Free Fire top-up) service can give you the edge you need. In this article, we'll dive into 2025's most effective Free Fire rank push tips while also showing you how to maximize your performance with affordable in-game diamonds. Why Ranking Up Matters in Free Fire Free Fire's ranked mode isn't just about bragging rights. Reaching higher tiers—Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Heroic, and Grandmaster—unlocks exclusive rewards such as: Elite skins and character outfits Weapon upgrades Exclusive emotes Rank-specific bonuses To secure your spot among the elite, you need more than luck. You need strategy—and the right resources. That's where a top up FF termurah platform becomes essential. Where to Get the Cheapest Free Fire Top-Up In 2025, smart players are optimizing their budgets using reliable third-party top-up services. One of the most trusted in Indonesia is Istana Topup, known for: Competitive prices on Free Fire diamonds on Free Fire diamonds Fast delivery (usually within minutes) (usually within minutes) Safe payments via local banks, e-wallets, and QRIS via local banks, e-wallets, and QRIS User-friendly interface tailored to Indonesian gamers So before you jump into ranked mode, make sure you top up FF termurah via Istana Topup to load up on weapons, skins, and character upgrades. Rank Push Strategies for 2025 Now that you're geared up, let's focus on in-game tactics to boost your rank. 1. Land Smart, Survive Longer Avoid high-traffic drop zones like Clock Tower and Peak. Instead, aim for safe zones with decent loot like Cape Town, Hangar, or Katulistiwa. The goal is to survive the early game and reach the top 5 consistently for maximum Rank Points (RP). Pro Tip: Use your early diamonds (from a top up FF termurah) to buy drop maps and loadout items for safer loot gathering. 2. Character Combos That Work Here are top character picks for rank push in 2025: Alok : Increases movement and heals over time—a top pick. : Increases movement and heals over time—a top pick. K : Great for EP regeneration and sustainability. : Great for EP regeneration and sustainability. Skyler: Destroys Gloo Walls and provides healing, making him deadly in the final zones. Pair these with pets like: Mr. Waggor : Provides Gloo Wall grenades—essential for defense. : Provides Gloo Wall grenades—essential for defense. Falco: Boosts skydiving and glider speed for early land advantage. Unlocking these characters and pets is easier when you top up FF termurah regularly and invest diamonds smartly. 3. Maximize RP with Smart Fighting RP (Rank Points) are based on: Kills Placement Survival Time Assists Play smart, not just aggressive. Ambush from cover, third-party ongoing fights, and always rotate into the safe zone early. Use sound cues, scout towers, and UAVs to detect threats. Diamond Tip: Buy scanner and UAV in the loadout section using your top up FF termurah resources. 4. Use Meta Weapons and Attachments For 2025, these are the meta combinations: MP40 + M1887 : Devastating in close-range fights. : Devastating in close-range fights. XM8 + Desert Eagle : Mid-to-long-range flexibility. : Mid-to-long-range flexibility. Groza + M1014: Balanced combo with high damage potential. Keep these fully equipped with attachments like scopes, foregrips, and muzzles. Elite weapon skins that increase reload speed or damage rate can be unlocked through lucky spins—again, possible via a top up FF termurah. 5. Gloo Wall Mastery Learn how to: Quick deploy : Bind Gloo Wall to a separate key if using a controller or emulator. : Bind Gloo Wall to a separate key if using a controller or emulator. Fake cover : Place it as bait and then ambush enemies. : Place it as bait and then ambush enemies. 360 defense: In close fights, use a circular wall formation to block all angles. You can carry more Gloo Walls by upgrading your backpack or unlocking special pet abilities—many of which require diamonds from your top up FF termurah session. 6. Play With a Squad You Trust While solo rank push is doable, duo or squad mode has team bonuses: Revives and assists boost RP. Communication makes rotations safer. Team synergy can outplay stronger opponents. Coordinate with friends, use voice chat, and assign specific roles (scout, sniper, rusher, support) for maximum efficiency. 7. Watch Zone Rotations Final zone prediction is a skill. Always: Rotate early to high ground. Stay within cover until final 3 squads. Use drones, walls, and grenades in endgame circles. Again, tools like launch pads or special grenades can be obtained from the in-game store—made affordable with a top up FF termurah. Diamond Usage Guide for Rank Pushers With limited diamonds, you must spend wisely. Here's a breakdown: Item Type Priority Source Character Unlock High Top up FF termurah promotions Loadout Items Medium Store Weapon Skins High Lucky Royale Elite Pass High Monthly top-up Pet Unlocks Medium Store & events Sites like Istana Topup often offer bonus diamonds during events or bulk purchases. Be sure to subscribe or bookmark for top up FF termurah alerts. Conclusion: Play Smart, Spend Smart Pushing ranks in Free Fire is about more than skill. It's a combination of tactical gameplay, strategic gear use, and staying up-to-date with the meta. And with reliable diamond access through top up FF termurah services, every player—casual or competitive—can rise through the ranks. If you're serious about hitting Grandmaster this season, start by upgrading your gear and unlocking the best characters. Then follow our survival-first, smart-rotation strategies to dominate the battlefield in 2025. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
