Sorry, The School In Tanjungping Has Not Opened Yet Due To 28 COVID-19 Reactive Teachers

JAKARTA - The Education Office of Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands Province, was forced to postpone the implementation of face-to-face learning (PTM) in schools because there were a number of reactive teachers based on rapid tests before starting school.

"Initially PTM was scheduled to start today, but we decided to postpone it until an undetermined time limit," said Acting Head of the Tanjungpinang Education Office, Thamrin, as reported by Antara in Tanjungpinang, Monday, January 18.

Thamrin said earlier that on Tuesday, January 12, his party had held a rapid test for about 280 educators who would carry out PTM in 15 elementary and junior high schools throughout Tanjungpinang.

From the results of the rapid test, ten percent or about 28 people were declared reactive. Even in some schools, there are about five to seven reactive teachers.

The reactive teacher was immediately tested for PCR on Wednesday (13/1). However, as of Friday (15/1) the results have not come out.

"This condition has been reported to Mayor Rahma, then a meeting with all school principals. All agreed to postpone it while waiting for the results of the teacher's swab test to come out," said Thamrin.

He continued, the postponement of PTM in this school also took into account the situation of the COVID-19 case in Tanjungpinang which was still fluctuating, where about two weeks ago there were 40 positive cases, but in the last few days it has increased to 70 people.

"So, we don't want to take risks. We are afraid that parents will hesitate to bring their children to school," he added.

In addition, said Thamrin, from a survey conducted by his party, not all parents were willing to give permission for their children to come to school, there were some parents who expressed their objections.

Although it did not have a big influence on the PTM plan, with some students learning face-to-face and some other students learning online, the teacher has two tasks, namely in addition to teaching at school as well as teaching online.

"We are worried that the teaching and learning process will be less effective if the teacher carries out the two tasks at once," said Thamrin.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the decision to postpone the PTM was for the convenience of parents and student safety, as well as to prevent the new cluster of COVID-19 in schools.