There Are 2 Positive COVID-19 Students, The Madiun City Government Suspends The PTM Plan 100 Percent

MADIUN - The City Government of Madiun, East Java, has suspended the 100 percent face-to-face learning plan (PTM) for elementary and junior high school students, following the findings of two students who were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Head of the Madiun City Education Office, Lismawati, said that according to the plan, the 100 percent PTM would start next week, but the city government did not want to take the risk, even though the vaccination for children aged 6-11 years would be completed soon.

"If the conditions are not yet possible, then PTM will be carried out on a limited basis for the time being. This step is also an effort to anticipate the transmission of COVID-19, especially among students", she said, quoted by Antara on Friday, January 21.

Two students were confirmed to have COVID-19, one student at Muhammadiyah Elementary School and one student at SMPN 2 School. Both were the children of one of the employees of the "red plate" bank in Madiun.

"Because the conditions are like this, namely the existence of a bank cluster, PTM is still limited first, not yet 100 percent. If it is safe, then we will carry out 100 percent PTM", she said.

She explained that the technical implementation of limited PTM is still the same as before, namely 50 percent of students from class capacity. For the elementary school level, PTM is limited to two shifts with a maximum learning duration of three hours of lessons per day.

Meanwhile, for junior high school students, 50 percent of PTM is applied in schools with a maximum learning duration of six hours of lessons per day. The rest follow distance learning (PJJ) or are given structured assignments.

Lismawati emphasized that based on the results of tracking of students and teachers conducted by the Health Office-PPKB (Achievements and Equal Learning Opportunities) of Madiun City in the two schools the results were negative, it is very likely that next week they will be able to carry out limited PTM again, while still implementing strict health protocols.

Based on the findings of the banking cluster, his party appealed to the public to remain calm and increase discipline in implementing health protocols.

He also asked for the role of parents and the environment in supervising and educating children so that they remain disciplined in implementing health protocols, namely always wearing masks when doing activities, staying away from crowds, keeping a distance, and always washing hands.