The coronavirus pandemic has forced many schools to allow students to do the learning activities at home. They are encouraged to study under the supervision of parents in their respective homes.
By
KOMARUDDIN HIDAYAT
·8 minutes read
Kompas/Priyombodo
A student at Al-Bayan Islamic School, Tangerang City, Banten, doing the work of the teacher while studying at home (home learning), Tuesday (17/3/2020). School students in the Jabodetabek area and several other provinces in Indonesia must study at home following the government\'s policy to temporarily close schools in an effort to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many schools to allow students to do the learning activities at home. They are encouraged to study under the supervision of parents in their respective homes.
Part of the learning processes is replaced through e-learning, or online distance learning. This is a new experience that requires adaptation for all parties. Teachers in schools must be creative on how to teach through distance learning. Of course, many teachers and schools are hesitant, many are not ready. Then, parents are also in confusion over preparing the necessary equipment and arranging mentally so that learning objectives can be achieved.
In the first weeks, children and parents are happy to be together at home; parents can accompany their children to learn. However, not a few parents or children have complained because they are not as disciplined as learning in a school environment. Many children prefer to be taught by teachers rather than by parents who are impatient and irritable. Parents also increasingly realize how difficult it is to be teachers for their children. We are indeed obliged to thank teachers and schools. Without them, the majority of parents cannot afford to do home schooling under their care. It is not easy to move the situation of school learning to their homes.
During the corona outbreak, a very popular new term also emerges, namely work from home (WFH). Of course this is a concept for city people who work in offices with a well-established work culture, equipped with standard technological facilities. By working and studying at home, intimacy and warmth in the family is immediately felt. However, for those whose homes are small, large families must feel crowded and their homes stuffy. Work and learning become unproductive and ineffective.
A number of friends disclosed that in the first two weeks, the warm condition and emotions were still under control. However, entering the third week, boredom began to emerge because they had to continue to stay at home. They began to feel like prisoners with limited mobility. Everyone refrained from leaving the houses for fear of the threat of COVID-19. It turns out that when freedom of movement is limited, suddenly the world becomes cramped and stress arises. This reminds us that one of the innate human characters is being wanderers; happy to wander.
The coronavirus outbreak appears as a common enemy for humans all over the world. All inhabitants of the Earth are unable to fight it alone. Thus, a sense of solidarity emerges, from the small and closest environment at the level of the village and country to the world. The coronavirus forces all of us to get in the habit of maintaining personal hygiene and the environment with discipline.
We are also aware that both those who are classified as rich or poor must work together to maintain safety and the purpose of living together. How many poor and economically disadvantaged families need a helping hand from the affluent? Many hotel businesses, restaurants, travel agencies and other places of work are forced to lay off their employees. Those who work in transportation services, such as Gojak and Grab, are deserted by the passengers.
In a crisis situation, the quality of the legislative and executive ranks is tested and shows their true character. The politicians who are diligent in meeting the people every time before the general elections and regional elections now do not know what they must think and do for their constituents. During a crisis, it can be seen who are sincere and dedicated leaders serving the people and who tend to be quiet for their own safety.
Interestingly enough, many parents who educate their children care about helping the poor around their homes. For wise teachers and parents, the crisis situation turns out to be a direct and authentic learning of life and character-building opportunity for their children.
Voice of the clerics
In responding to the government\'s suggestion that the community conduct social and physical distancing, apparently not all religious leaders obey it, both those from the circles of Muslims Christians, and Hindus. Some are still holding religious ceremonies. They argue that to get sick and die is at God\'s hands. The coronavirus is afraid of believers who are praying and worshiping God, they said.
However, in general, it should be appreciated that clerics and governments do not confront science and faith. Even the ruler of Saudi Arabia who has been perceived as conservative has closed his country from guests who want to perform umrah (minor haj). That means that on a macro scale, the clerics recognize the essence of science by instructing people to do social distancing. Even if there are clerics who say "We are only afraid of God, not afraid of coronavirus", the number is small.
It is certainly strange that the Grand Mosque of Mecca, which is always full of people who come to do tawaf (ritual of circumambulating the Kaaba), is now quiet, isolated. Those who live in Mecca also follow the advice to stay at home. There appears a new awareness as a sufistic approach to religion that to seek and meet God is not necessarily in mosques and crowded places. Precisely in the silence it will be more intense to make a dialogue with God. God is found deep in the heart, not necessarily in the crowd of mosques, churches or temples. In the past, Prophet Muhammad found enlightenment when he was alone in Hira Cave. Gautama received enlightenment of life after coming out of the luxury of the palace. Prophet Yunus (Jonah) obtained God\'s forgiveness after being alone in the belly of a fish.
REUTERS/GANOO ESSA
View of the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday (06/3/2020). The Saudi Arabian government suspended the Umrah worship amid the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak throughout the world.
The state in a coup
Thus, the coronavirus outbreak has brought people closer to God and the families that have thus far been ignored. Modes of life are deconstructed that wealth, position and intelligence cannot be relied upon. We must respect and trust science, but there are many problems and mysteries of life where science has not yet been able to find the answers. So, a spiritual closeness to God will always remain relevant. Even, some people are prime and superior, besides the rational approach.
It seems as if all countries are currently facing a coup by the coronavirus. Everyone feels overwhelmed and stunned. Countries that have felt great and strong have also been confused and acknowledge their vulnerability in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. Like to be stripped of their great clothes, they are later humiliated. Nuclear weapons, which are the mainstay if the Third World War erupts, are unable to defeat the virus that works quietly.
The lively and glamorous parties that used to be originally magnetic are now precisely avoided. People choose to be alone, at least to distance themselves from others. In their own silence, there are those who find a new agenda, do an inner journey, contemplate the meaning and purpose of life, question the worldly sparkle that is suddenly dimmed by the coronavirus’ interruption. People do introspections and realize that humans have been very greedy, damaging the balance and justice of nature.
Kompas
Komaruddin Hidayat.
In the name of modernization with scientific excellence, modern society has ruined the balance of nature. Animals and plants as fellow dwellers of this Earth are evicted and abused by urban society. Humans have gone beyond the order of the Earth and nature is angry. This is a warning to humans, as the creatures who feel the smartest but are also weak and stupid.
There is an eternal message from Mother Earth that humans will lose if they fight against nature. In fact, the Earth is actually very good, merciful and provides all human needs, while humans are not polite and do not respect fellow Earth dwellers, both fellow humans, animal and plants.
We hope that the coronavirus outbreak will provide awareness of the need for a simple life, share love and together bring heaven on Earth. We all live under the same sun, stand, sit, walk and sleep on the same Earth. Religions, skin colors and languages may be different, but we are all a big family of God who are traveling for a moment on God\'s Earth. Let us celebrate life with bonds of love and mutual respect for one another. Thank you coronavirus, you have taught us to be wiser in living and interpreting life.
I, we, and all of us are one. Hopefully this awareness and humanitarian conscience will usher in the birth of a new post-coronavirus Indonesian society.
Komaruddin Hidayat,Supervisor of the Madania Education Foundation Indonesia.
