FSGI: 42 Teachers Die Of COVID-19

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary General of the Federation of Indonesian Teachers' Unions (FSGI) Fahriza Tanjung said that 42 teachers had died due to COVID-19.

"On August 18, 2020, in our records, 42 teachers died from COVID-19. There were also 2 other education personnel who died from COVID-19," Fahriza said in a virtual discussion, Saturday, August 22.

Of the 42 teachers who died, 1 person was recorded as teaching in Jakarta. This teacher had direct contact with 3 other teachers. Then, there were 3 teachers who died teaching in Central Java, and 38 others in East Java.

FSGI does not have definite data regarding the place where COVID-19 is transmitted. However, according to him, some teachers are still required to go to school to fill out the attendance list.

"What happened in Surabaya, they are required to attend for finger attendance. This is the potential for such data (additional COVID-19 cases in teachers) to emerge," said Fahriza.

He said, not all hygiene facilities in schools were adequate and were able to minimize the spread of the corona virus. Fahriza also took an example of Toba Regency, North Sumatra, which is preparing face-to-face learning in schools.

Before reopening activities, schools were required to fill out a checklist on the official website of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Of the 51 schools, only 13 schools filled in the checklist.

"37 schools did not do the checklist. We should ask why schools that did not fill in the checklist were able to open schools," continued Fahriza.

Therefore, Fahriza assessed that reopening schools in the green zone (without cases of COVID) and the orange zone (low risk) during the COVID-19 pandemic is very risky if it is done without preparation.