Bali and Yogyakarta Cancel Face-to-face Learning

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

A grade 2 student at SD Pembangunan Jaya 2 Sidoarjo elementary school, Annada Sanjiwani, attends an online class using a smartphone in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Monday (4/1/2021). The high number of COVID-19 cases has forced schools to continue online learning, which was first introduced in March 2020.

BALI, KOMPAS — The provincial administrations of Bali and Yogyakarta canceled face-to-face learning that was scheduled to kick off in early January. Meanwhile, more than half of the regions in West Java province have chosen to carry out distance learning because the spread of COVID-19 is not under control and the schools’ infrastructure is not ready.

Head of the Bali Education, Youth and Sports Office, Ketut Ngurah Boy Jayawibawa, said that face-to-face learning (PTM) in Bali was originally planned to start on Monday (4/1/2021). However, given the COVID-19 situation in Bali and after receiving input from the regional education office and schools, the provincial government decided to postpone it.

"Seeing the trend of COVID-19 cases that are still high in some areas, it has been decided to postpone the face-to-face learning," said Boy when contacted on Wednesday (6/1/2021).

Also read: Most School Reopenings Delayed due to High Risk

Bali was one of 14 provinces that were ready to hold face-to-face learning at schools based on data compiled by the Education and Culture Ministry. Apart from Bali, 13 other provinces also initially stated that they were ready for the face-to-face learning. They were West Java, Yogyakarta, Riau, South Sumatra, Lampung, Central Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku, Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands and West Sulawesi.

We need to see the trend and the potential for an increase of cases in the post-holiday period.

One of the cancellations of face-to-face learning in Bali was made by the Denpasar municipality administration. Spokesperson for the Denpasar COVID-19 task force, I Dewa Gede Rai, said that the Denpasar municipality administration was still assessing the conditions and development of the COVID -19 cases in the area. "Moreover, recently there was a long holiday period [that could become a new cluster of transmission]. We need to see the trend and the potential for an increase of cases in the post-holiday period,” said Dewa Rai.

Also read: Most School Reopenings Delayed due to High Risk

Klungkung Regent I Nyoman Suwirta also stated that he did not want to rush in organizing face-to-face learning at schools even though Klungkung regency is categorized as an orange zone, having a moderate level of vulnerability.

Just like the Bali provincial administration, Yogyakarta will not yet implement face-to-face learning in January 2021 for the safety of the education participants.

"We cannot do face-to-face [learning] yet. Currently, the students still continue the distance learning [PJJ] or online learning from home,” said the head of the Yogyakarta Education, Youth and Sports Office, Didik Wardaya.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

A student at state high school SMAN 1 Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, washes her hands before entering her classroom on Monday (4/1/2021). Aside from applying strict health protocols, the school also required students to attend classes in shifts, limiting the number of students in each classroom. The policy was aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.

At the higher education level, there are a number of universities that have started to do limited face-to-face lectures, but only for experimental work. Theoretical course material is still delivered through online learning.

"The decision over whether to implement face-to-face learning in other levels of education will come after observing the face-to-face learning in higher education institutions. [We will see whether] during this month, new clusters will appear or not. Later, the implementation of face-to-face learning will also start at the most mature ages of the education institutions," said Didik.

Also read: Synergy in Overcoming Pandemic

Vocational high schools have also been allowed to do experimental work at schools. However, the work is being carried out under strict restrictions.

Half the area

In West Java, more than half of the regions have chosen to implement distance learning. Whether a school will implement face-to-face learning or online learning will depend on the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure readiness in each regency/municipality.

In addition, the telecommunications infrastructure in these places is also capable of supporting online learning.

Head of West Java Education Office, Dedi Supandi, stated that the regions that chose online learning were big cities with a high rate of transmission of COVID-19. In addition, the telecommunications infrastructure in these places is also capable of supporting online learning.

"Of the 27 regencies and cities in West Java, 17 choose online learning and 10 other regions will carry out partial learning activities. This is today\'s decision. We will monitor this until Friday for the final decision,” he said.

Kompas/Priyombodo

Jani, a student at Islamic kindergarten Citra Azzahra in Jakarta, creates a bracelet with the help of her teacher at her home in Kreo, Tangerang municipality, Banten, on Tuesday (5/1/2021). Aside from checking in on the students, the teacher’s visit was made to hand over books for the learning-from-home process. The high number of COVID-19 cases has forced schools to continue online learning.

Yesterday, Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the government would tighten large-scale social restrictions on the islands of Java and Bali from Jan. 11 to 25. With this limitation, schools are prohibited from carrying out face-to-face learning. The teaching and learning activities will continue to be held online. (COK/NCA/RTG/MED)

(This article and captions  was translated by Kurniawan H. Siswoko).