Government Advises Schools in Indonesia to Immediately Begin Limited Face-to-Face Learning

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim has recommended schools across the country to partially reopen for face-to-face learning as Indonesia has begun rolling out the Covid-19 jab drive for five million teachers and school staffers. 

This statement came after his working visit to East Kalimantan to have a closer look at the implementation of limited in-class learning in Balikpapan city and Penajam Paser Utara regency on April 6-7.  

"We should immediately carry out a limited face-to-face learning so that we can catch up," said Nadiem in a press statement on Thursday, April 8.

The minister said that he gave the green light to limited face-to-face learning since the beginning of this year, but it was done only in a few schools. 

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Since teachers and educators have received priority for the Covid-19 vaccination, Nadiem said, there should be no reason for schools not to carry out the face-to-face learning that follows strict school guidelines and health protocols.

A Joint Decree of the Four Ministers on Guidelines for Implementation of Learning in the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (Covid-19) published in March mentioned that the government has allowed schools to resume face-to-face learning on a limited basis.

The activities can be done in the regions that are classified as the Covid-19 green zone, areas with no record of coronavirus transmission, and the yellow zones, a low risk of Covid-19 transmission.

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"The decree is already in effect. There is no need to wait until July 2021 to conduct a limited face-to-face school," said Nadiem.