Several Regions to Implement Face-To-Face Learning in Stages

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

The teacher communicates with his students during face-to-face learning (PTM) at SDN 07 Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, Monday (3/1/2022).

SURAKARTA, KOMPAS — Although the national policy requires all regions to implement limited in-person schooling (PTM) starting this month, a number of regions have not been able to conform to the policy.

"This [PTM] will be implemented in stages. I really support the PTM. I'm sure parents also support the PTM," Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka said on Monday (3/1/2022) at City Hall in Surakarta, Central Java.

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However, Gibran asked that all students be vaccinated against Covid-19 before commencing the PTM. Currently, only students in secondary school, or junior high school (SMP) and senior high school (SMA), were 100 percent vaccinated. The PTM was thus being carried out in stages.

The regional administration of Magelang, Central Java, also recently started implementing the PTM at 32 percent of all schools in the regency.

"We still need to study and assess the plan to implement 100 percent PTM," Aziz Amin Mujahidin, the head of the Magelang Education and Culture Office, said on Sunday.

One consideration was the fact that Magelang had enforced level 2 of the public activity restrictions (PPKM) only in November 2021. First-dose vaccine coverage reached more than 70 percent as at the end of December.

According to the policy, schools implementing the PTM must be disinfected every day, all participants must have received their second vaccine dose, and 80 percent of school staff must be fully vaccinated.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said that implementing 100 percent PTM would not be easy, even though Jakarta’s vaccination coverage had reached more than 120 percent. According to the policy, schools implementing the PTM must be disinfected every day, all participants must have received their second vaccine dose, and 80 percent of school staff must be fully vaccinated.

On the other hand, Aidy Furqan, who heads the Education and Culture Office of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), stated in a circular received by Kompas that based on the latest evaluation, running a limited PTM simulation at SMA, SMK and special needs schools (SLB) in the province did not affect the health of school residents. A full PTM was highly anticipated because learning at home was not optimal.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Attendance officers matched the data of students who were present with the teacher during face-to-face learning (PTM) at SDN 05 Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, Monday (3/1/2022).

Jumeri, the director general of early childhood, elementary and secondary education at the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, told the “Readiness for PTM 2022 Implementation” webinar that schools in all regions could implement the PTM.

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According to him, starting January 2022, studying from home will no longer be an option. Although student vaccination is not a requirement for the limited PTM, parents have been told to encourage their children aged 6-18 to be vaccinated.

Dropouts

According to the education ministry’s secretary general, Suharti, during the pandemic, the number of elementary school dropouts had increased tenfold compared to the figure in 2019.

Remote learning (PJJ) placed great pressure on children, parents and teachers. A World Bank study showed that the pandemic had resulted in a decline in student ability from 0.8 to 1.3 years of schooling. The results of the study also showed that the learning gap had expanded between rich and poor families.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A teacher in front of the class brings subject matter during face-to-face learning (PTM) at SDN 05 Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, Monday (3/1/2022).

However, the Indonesian Pediatric Society called on schools and the government to give parents and families the freedom to join the PTM or participate online, and warned against coercion. (NCA/EGI/HLN/ZAK/ELN/AIK)

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo)