When Classrooms Move to Homes

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

The home study policy set by the government regarding the covid-19 outbreak was used by Al Azhar 15 Pamulang Elementary School, South Tangerang, Banten to hold online teaching and learning activities, on Tuesday (17/3/2020). Students and teachers utilize the googleclassroom application for study rooms and zoom cloud meetings for teleconferences.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Children used to study at school peacefully. Now, in order to reduce crowds that are vulnerable to COVID-19 coronavirus transmission, many schools suspended the teaching in classrooms and replaced it with “home schooling”. However, the implementation is not always easy.

On a bright Tuesday morning (17/3/2020), Titi, 33, a housewife in Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten, had just accompanied her daughter Noura, 5, as she studied. It was relaxed. The first grader at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah As Salaamah elementary school wore an outfit showing a picture of Elsa, a character in the movie Frozen.

The mother and daughter sat on the carpet in the living room. Nearby were three puzzles, a mini folding table and a transparent folder filled with paper and learning materials – handed out by her teacher during the last meeting at school on Monday.

Parents are asked to accompany their children when they study at home. On average, three subjects must be completed per day.

As per the instructions of the government, Noura’s school is replacing the teaching and learning in the classroom with home study for two weeks. Parents are asked to accompany their children when they study at home. On average, three subjects must be completed per day.

It\'s just that, since not having to go to school, Noura wakes up later. The girl said she feels that because she did not have to go to school it means she can get up when she wishes. "This is a challenge. She’s free to get up later, but I encourage her to follow the agenda. I photograph her learning activities every day and send them to the teacher via WhatsApp," said Titi.

Having classes at home turns out to be quite complicated, especially for adults who also have a lot of household chores. For example, while accompanying Noura while she studies, Titi also takes care of a baby. Her husband was busy with a conference call about work-related stuff with his supervisor. "I haven\'t taken a bath yet," she said, laughing.

Distracted

In Depok, West Java, Kartika Anindita, a public relations consultant, also deals with similar activities. She keeps going to the office on alternating days. Her husband works every day.

While working at home, Kartika accompanies her daughter, Cyla, a second grade student at a state elementary school in Cimanggis, Depok, for home study. The school asked all parents to follow the directions in the WhatsApp group every morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. It contains a list of lessons, books and assignments for the students. Every activity is photographed and sent to the teacher through WhatsApp. The student also needs to do tests, which can be downloaded from an educational app.

Kartika creates a schedule for Cyla: when to study, take a break, do schoolwork and then do the test from the educational app. However, the schedule was hard to follow. "Cyla gets up late. I asked her to take a bath, have breakfast and fulfill the learning agenda," she said.

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

A junior high school student in Solo, Central Java, on Monday (16/3/2020) opened the Google Classroom application while studying at home. The City Government of Solo has adopted a policy of elementary, junior high, and high school level equivalent students studying at home for 14 days starting on Monday (16/3/2020) following the establishment of the Covid-19 Extraordinary Event status in Solo.

When she has to leave for the office, Kartika hands over the responsibility of accompanying Cyla to her domestic assistant and her parents. "But even at the office, I was distracted between home and office. I have also provided Cyla with a smartphone so that she can report [about her activities] to the teacher herself," she said.

The WhatsApp group of students’ parents has become a forum for sharing. "My husband and I strengthen one another," she said.

Shinta Setyaningsing, a technology company employee who lives in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, also works at home while accompanying her child who studies through the Zoom Cloud Meeting app. In order to stay motivated, she and her child deliberately dress neatly like for the office and school. "We must dress neatly because we will meet face to face online," she said.

The stories of Titi, Kartika and Shinta represent the efforts of many parents and children to build space for study at home. In their respective ways, they share their enthusiasm during this hard time while praying that the COVID-19 pandemic would soon end.

Not all ready yet

Until now, according to the Education and Culture Ministry, 140 regency/city administrations have suspended teaching activities in classrooms. According to Banda Aceh Mayor Aminullah Usman, all sides must commit to carrying out the online education while the school activities are suspended. "The parents can guide children to learn from home," he said.

Teachers must be trained to make them familiar with them.

According to the chairperson of the Indonesian Teachers Association, M. Ramli Rahim, not all teachers are ready to do the online instruction. In some regions, many teachers send the learning materials directly to the home of the students. "In fact, there are many applications for online classes. Teachers must be trained to make them familiar with them," he said.

Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim said that civil servants at the ministry also worked at home with online conference technology. This is part of engaging in social distancing in order to prevent a crowd from forming, which is vulnerable to the transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

"Let us save the lives of Indonesian people by working from home, learning from home and worshiping from home," Nadiem said in a short video on Monday (16/3). (VIO/AIN/XTI)