Education Recovery Becoming Increasingly Urgent

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Student activities in face-to-face learning (PTM) at SDN Klender 01, East Jakarta, Tuesday (4/1/2022). Entering the second day of face-to-face learning or full PTM, the number of positive Omicron cases in Jakarta was observed to be 162 cases, while the total active cases of Covid-19 in DKI Jakarta rose to 694 cases. The Education Office is asked to be aware of the possibility of transmission because the Omicron variant can spread quickly, even people who have been vaccinated can also be infected.

GRESIK, KOMPAS — The reopening of schools starting this month has been more extensive than last year. However, not all schools in the regions have implemented limited in-person schooling (PTM) for the first week, as they are awaiting technical instructions from local administrations.

Regional administrations were called on to support and not hinder the school reopenings. However, everything must be supervised and evaluated to prevent the appearance of Covid-19 clusters at schools.

In East Java, all senior high schools (SMAs), vocational schools (SMKs) and special needs schools (SLBs) in the province’s 24 regencies/cities were declared eligible to implement full PTM based on local vaccination rates.

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"Starting Monday, 3 January 2022, 100 percent of SMA/SMK and SLB have implemented limited PTM," East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said on Tuesday (4/1/2022), during a visit to SMKN I Cerme Gresik and SMAN I Cerme Gresik.

Meanwhile, 217 elementary and junior high schools in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, are still awaiting instructions from the local education and culture office. Teaching and learning activities are currently taking place on a limited basis.

SMP 11 Naimata Kupang principal Warmansyah said that the school had 956 students. Students had been attending classes as per the limited PTM from July 2021 until the school year resumed this month.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

The atmosphere at the Panunggangan 4 State Elementary School, Tangerang City, Banten, Monday (3/1/2022). The school adjusts the conditions for all students to participate in face-to-face learning.

Likewise, the Magelang administration in Central Java has also decided not to implement 100 percent PTM immediately. According to Magelang Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Nanda Cahyadi Pribadi, the regency would implement full PTM in stages, taking into account the high potential for Covid-19 transmission.

Separately, Jumeri, the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry’s director general of early childhood, basic and secondary education, said that education recovery needed to be start immediately by implementing the limited PTM to overcome the various academic and nonacademic impacts from almost two years of school closures.

PTM at universities

It is not only primary and secondary schools that are encouraged to immediately implement full PTM. Tertiary instituations have also been instructed to start on-campus lectures in 2022.

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The education ministry’s acting director general of higher education, research and technology, Nizam, said universities were also encouraged to ready for PTM. Preparations had begun last semester, especially for students in the 2020 and 2021 batches.

"Based on the evaluation, there are no new [Covid-19] clusters resulting from [implementing] PTM at campus. As long as all parties maintain discipline in following the health protocols, on-campus activities can start immediately this semester," said Nizam. (NIK/KOR/EGI/ELN)

This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko.