High School Students Confess To Jokowi Missing Studying At School

JAKARTA - A student of SMAN 1 Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, Ayu Lestari, confided to President Joko Widodo about his desire to return to face-to-face learning at school.

This was conveyed when Jokowi reviewed the implementation of virtual student vaccination via video conference connection.

"Permission to ask, sir, for the vaccination program for these students, is there a possibility for face-to-face learning, sir? Because we really miss studying at school, sir," Ayu said to Jokowi, Wednesday, July 14.

To Jokowi, Ayu admitted that she was better able to capture teaching material if she studied directly at school. This is because online learning, which has been running for more than a year, often experiences network problems.

"Because understanding at school is more catchy and like group work, like presentations, online sometimes it interferes with the network, sir. And when the teacher explains suddenly it breaks up, sir, so it doesn't catch," said Ayu.

Responding to Ayu's complaint, Jokowi explained that the current condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia has not subsided. Jokowi initially wanted to open a school in the new school year in July. However, the rise in COVID-19 cases has forced face-to-face schools to be postponed.

"Indeed, yesterday we planned to start learning face-to-face in July, but due to the increasing spread of the virus, we have postponed the plan," said Jokowi.

"Indeed, I heard that children want to go back to school face to face again, want to meet their friends, want to meet study groups, want to meet their teachers, all of them have that desire," he added.

However, Jokowi asked everyone to be patient and remain careful because the spread of COVID-19 is still happening, not only in Indonesia, but also in other countries around the world.

"Later, when COVID-19 subsides, we will open, allowing face-to-face learning again in all schools in the country. Most importantly, Ayu and her friends all continue to be enthusiastic about learning, don't slack off, if there are things what you want to ask, when you study online, ask your teachers, yes," said Jokowi.

It is known, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) held mass vaccinations for students and door to door to the public. This vaccination was carried out at 32 points in 15 districts/cities.

In total, there are 15 thousand junior high school students and 15 thousand high school students. Then, 19 thousand people were targeted for door-to-door vaccination.