In-Person Classes to Resume Next Week in Jakarta

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Jakarta Administration is set to begin in-person learning on Monday, August 30 but it will only allow a limited number of students and study time in classrooms.

A spokesperson for the Jakarta Education Agency Taga Radja said that the limited face-to-face learning will start next week as the program must be thoroughly discussed.

“We have discussed it comprehensively as we prepare the schools to return to in-person learning next week. We are still waiting for a decree from the Education Agency head,” Taga said on Tuesday, August 24.

Taga further added that the Education Agency evaluated face-to-face learning before the Covid-19 cases surged.

Also read: Jakarta to Continue Trial Face-to-Face Classes in Schools

He said that several schools that previously had already done test runs for the in-person classes are now ready to reopen in stages. As many as 243 schools already participated in the test runs in April and June this year. Meanwhile, 372 other schools have just started the trial.
“In total there were 615 schools that participated yesterday. Hopefully (the data) will not change next week,” said Taga.

The face-face classes will be held on Monday and the mechanisms remain similar to the previous ones as explained by the Jakarta Education Agency head Nahdiana. This includes limited study time in classrooms and once-a-week classes for a certain grade level.

Previously, Nahdiana said that the duration of study time will only be allowed to take place between 3-4 hours a day. Besides, each school must limit the number of students per classroom to 50 percent of capacity and maintain a physical distancing of 1.5 meters. Only essential school materials will be taught during in-person learning.

Also read: Indonesia Deemed to be Ready For Face-to-Face Classes in Schools

On Monday, President Joko Widodo announced that the Covid-19 alert level in Indonesia has been lowered after a decrease in active cases and the number of patients receiving treatment in hospitals. The government has decided to lower the Covid-19 alert level from four to three in some regions starting from August 24-30.

Some adjustments have been also made, including the rules for places of worship, restaurants, and malls or shopping centers.

(Writer: Singgih Wiryono | Editor: Egidius Patnistik)

Source: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2021/08/24/19075211/sekolah-tatap-muka-terbatas-di-jakarta-dimulai-senin-depan.