Indonesia Still Reviews Face-to-Face Learning

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Online learning will still be continued during the Covid-19 pandemic as the government has yet decided whether face-to-face learning will be implemented anytime soon, Kompas.com learned. 

Masduki Baidlowi, a spokesperson for Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, said the government has yet decided whether in-class learning will be conducted as a mass vaccination program is still taking place to achieve a target of 70 percent herd community.   

"To achieve it [herd immunity] is not easy because to get 180 million people vaccinated in a year requires extraordinary effort. Face-to-face schools could become new clusters [of Covid-19], so until now the government is still deciding," said Masduki, Wednesday, March 25.

Also read: Indonesia’s Health Ministry Prepares for New School Year Amid the Pandemic

Masduki added face-to-face learning will be appropriate when the pandemic gets better as it is no guarantee that a vaccine will create Covid immunity. 

"It would be good to create a fresh atmosphere in our education system, but it cannot be fully implemented in the areas where the level of crisis remains high," said Masduki.

"The level of caution must be maintained very well so that the herd immunity target can still be achieved."

Masduki added these issues would be discussed further in a limited cabinet meeting attended by the president, vice president, and ministers. The discussion will also involve a team in charge of monitoring and evaluating whether face-to-face schools could be implemented.

Also read: In-Class Learning May Resume in July, Jokowi Says

Previously, the Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim gave a green light to face-to-face schools, but it will still be depending on the policy of each local government.

Starting January 2021, face-to-face schools are allowed to be held on a limited basis.

"The decision is up to the parents to allow or prevent their children from going to face-to-face school. But when the teachers have been vaccinated, the school is obliged to provide limited face-to-face options," said Nadiem.

Regions that are classified as the Covid-19 green zone, areas with no recorded coronavirus transmission, and yellow zones, a low risk of Covid-19 transmission, are allowed to implement the face-to-face learning. 

However, only 56 percent of schools in the green zone and 28 percent of schools in the yellow zone have carried out direct teaching and learning activities.

(Writer: Deti Mega Purnamasari | Editor : Icha Rastika)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/25/09414151/jubir-wapres-soal-sekolah-tatap-muka-belum-diputuskan