Pontianak Allows Face-to-Face Learning To Start Tomorrow

PONTIANAK - The Pontianak City Government, West Kalimantan, has allowed the implementation of face-to-face learning starting August 18 in schools that are ready according to the COVID-19 prevention protocol.

"We are not in a hurry and in a hurry, but I allow face-to-face schools tomorrow from the PAUD, TK, SD, and SMP levels, especially for schools that are ready," said Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono, quoted as saying Between, Tuesday, August 17th.

He said students who had been participating in online learning remotely for months were looking forward to holding teaching and learning activities at school.

The mayor said several restrictions would be applied in the implementation of face-to-face learning in schools, including limits on study time and the number of participants in teaching and learning activities.

Schools that will carry out face-to-face learning must have prepared infrastructure to support the implementation of health protocols such as body temperature measuring devices, masks, and hand washing facilities and ensure that all school residents comply with health protocols.

In addition, schools must ensure that all their teachers have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Mayor said that teaching and learning activities in schools must be carried out with the approval of parents or guardians of students and the School Committee.

"We have also given special directions for teachers," said Edi.

The Pontianak City Government will evaluate the implementation of face-to-face learning on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, the Acting Head of the Pontianak City Education and Culture Office, Iwan Amriady, said that in principle elementary and junior high schools were ready to resume face-to-face learning.

He added that the simulation of the implementation of face-to-face learning in elementary and junior high schools had been carried out in March 2021.

"The mayor of Pontianak has also given direction to all principals of PAUD, TK, and other levels of education," he said.

In accordance with the provisions, Iwan explained, in face-to-face learning at the early childhood education level the number of students is limited to five people and at the elementary and high school levels the number of students is limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the room capacity.

Iwan said in general all schools were ready to carry out face-to-face learning in accordance with the COVID-19 prevention protocol.

However, according to him, there are several schools that want to return to ask permission from the parents of students to carry out face-to-face learning.