Govt to reopen schools in corona green zone, ready for it?

The government has decided to re-open schools in the corona green zone in the new school year 2020/2021.

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 05:27 am

The government has decided to re-open schools in the corona green zone in the new school year 2020/2021. However, schools in the yellow, orange, and red zones still have to carry out teaching and learning activities from home.

Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) Nadiem Makarim stressed there was no change in the schedule for the new academic year 2020/2021. He stated the calendar year of Academic Year 2020/2021 continued to begin in July.

But Nadiem said, learning in colleges in all zones was still required to be carried out online until there was further policy.

Whereas for a number of priority activities that affect student graduation, the college’s board may allow students to go to campus.

Chairperson of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X of the PKB Faction, Syaiful Huda asked the central government until the local government to pay attention to the health protocol in the school.

“Schools in open green zones must be ensured related to health protocols, it must be ensured,” Syaiful said when contacted on Tuesday, June 16.

Moreover, said Syaiful, schools in the green zone that were permitted to be opened were included in Indonesia’s underdeveloped, leading and outermost (3T) areas. Therefore, he requested that the government help in terms of medical devices needed in schools.

According to his discussion with the Federation of Indonesian Teachers Unions (FSGI), that the schools in the procurement of medical devices were relatively incapable. So, it is needed intervention both by the local government through the education authorities of each city and the intervention of the Mendikbud as the central government.

In addition, in a survey conducted by FSGI, many teachers, parents, and students still did not understand the health protocol. Thus, the government needs to disseminate health protocols in the region.

This is so that no new clusters occur because of the lack of health protocols.

Furthermore, Syaiful also requested that the Mendikbud immediately adapt to the distance learning method because the majority of students are currently still learning from home.

The National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Observer Network (JPPI) Ubaid Matraji assesses that there are inconsistencies in Nadiem’s decision. While a number of teachers considered Nadiem’s decision to be not solutive.

Nadiem allows the opening of schools in the green zone on several conditions, one of which is the permission of the local government and the national committee.

In addition, if parents do not allow their children to return to school, these students may continue to study at home. That, said Ubaid, reflects precisely the inconsistency and actually makes it confused.

In pandemic conditions, Ubaid assessed that the government should provide a comprehensive and definite policy ahead of the opening of new academic year.

In addition, he said, until now Mendikbud has not yet resolved the distance learning (PJJ) constraints that were found over the past three months. The Mendikbud has not yet made emergency curriculum in the midst of a pandemic.

Then other supporting facilities, such as teachers and access to facilities are still an obstacle. He considered Mendikbud should finalize these things first, then decide on policies.

Separately, Deputy Secretary-General of FSGI Satriwan assessed that Nadiem’s attitude in giving students’ school decisions to parents was not an effective solution in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The question is the number of teachers is limited. Then it means that in one school there are three methods of learning. But on the other hand, teachers also have to [teach] online or come home,” he said via video conference.

The Mendikbud asks each school in the green zone to check and complete its readiness independently before reopening in the middle of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Readiness includes health facilities ranging from toilets, sinks, hand washing soap, to spraying disinfectants regularly. Health protocol requirements such as temperature checking are also included.

Regarding the fulfillment of facilities, Nadiem has not mentioned that there is an increase in the amount of school operational assistance (BOS) funds or special budget allocations for the health protocol. He only emphasized that BOS funds could be used to support health protocols, distance learning, and teacher salaries.

Later students who enter school are not allowed to interact except only in the classroom. So after undergoing teaching and learning activities, they are required to go straight home.

Besides interacting in the canteen, sports and extracurricular activities have not been permitted in the two-month transition period.

Including reducing the number of students in one class. When schools open, Nadiem limits the number of students to 18 per class