There is no Tolerance for Reopening Schools

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Students of SMPN 19 Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, take part in face-to-face learning, Wednesday (6/1/2021).

The spread of Covid-19 among communities is still high, with confirmed cases continuing to increase.

While by the end of 2020 the positive ratio of Covid-19 was on average above 20 percent or one out of every five people tested positive, at the beginning of 2021 this rose to more than 29 percent.

The spread of Covid-19 cases is also almost evenly distributed throughout Indonesia, with the risk of further spread still large. Most provinces have indeed postponed reopening schools starting January 2021. However, there are 14 provinces that have declared that they are ready to open schools or hold face-to-face instruction, while four provinces are holding in-person instruction and distance learning (Kompas, 6/1/2021).

Also read: Most School Reopenings Delayed due to High Risk

By looking at the Covid-19 Task Force data as of Jan. 6, 2021, of the 14 provinces, a number of them are still dominated by red zones. In Yogyakarta province, for example, of the five cities/regencies, four of them are red zones. Likewise in Bali, of its nine regencies/cities, five of them are red zones.

In accordance with the Joint Decree of the Four Ministers announced on Nov. 20, 2020, the decision to reopen schools is the authority of local governments. Face-to-face instruction is possible in all zones as long as it meets the checklist of health protocols and also parents\' permission for students to attend in-person instruction.

Also read: Online Learning Remains the Choice

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Second grade student of SD Pembangunan Jaya 2 Sidoarjo, Annada Sanjiwani, follows the first day of school entry which is held online, in Sidoarjo, East Java, January 4, 2021.

However, meeting these requirements is not sufficient to guarantee the safety of students, teachers and education staff from the risk of being infected with the new coronavirus as long as the spread of Covid-19 at the community is still high. In schools, health protocols can be implemented well, but what about outside the school fence, in the community?

The continuing increase in Covid-19 cases indicates that there are still problems in mitigating Covid-19. The public has not fully complied with the call not to assemble, wear masks at all times, wash hands and also to reduce mobility to break the chain of Covid-19 spread. Likewise, the government has not fully implemented the tracing, testing, treatment (3T) practice.

Also read: New Cases Still High, Local Administration Cautious

Insisting on reopening schools amid increasing Covid-19 cases not only poses a high risk of transmission in schools but also worsening the condition. With the availability of hospital beds running low and the number of doctors and health workers on the decline due to Covid-19, new patients are at risk of not being treated properly.

Opening schools during the pandemic requires preparation and this does not start with implementing health protocols in schools but with efforts to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission at the community level. At present, these efforts must be carried out together with efforts to maximize distance learning to overcome the learning crisis due to school closures.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.