All Schools Can Enter, KPAI: Face-to-Face Learning Better For Difficult Subjects

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), proposes the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) to open schools for face-to-face learning in January 2021 for certain conditions.

KPAI Commissioner for Education, Retno Listyarti said, it is better that face-to-face learning is allowed only for difficult lessons and practicum activities.

"Face-to-face learning should only be for material that is difficult and very difficult and requires practicum. Meanwhile, medium and easy material is given in distance learning," said Retno in her statement, Monday, December 28.

Then, Retno asked the Ministry of Education and Culture to map the schools that were ready and those that were not ready for face-to-face learning in January 2021.

Even though they are in a green zone or an area where a COVID-19 case has not been recorded and have had no new cases for 14 days, the schools there are not ready, Retno asked face-to-face learning to be postponed.

In addition, there needs to be a guide or reference for schools and regions when implementing face-to-face learning or mixed distance learning.

Schools must also be accompanied and supported by funding to prepare infrastructure and health protocols or new customary adaptation SOPs in educational units.

"Socialization and SOP for adapting to new habits (AKB) in schools is very important before face-to-face learning begins. If the school is not ready, it is better if you postpone opening schools in January 2021," he said.

Thus, KPAI encourages the central and local governments to prepare seriously, planned and massively when opening face-to-face learning in schools.

"Care and caution are needed, lest schools have the strong potential to become new clusters. For this reason, the central government and local governments need to do so immediately," he concluded.