Was Discontinued Due To The COVID-19 Cluster, Next Week 54 Schools In Bandung Can Operate Again

Bandung City Regional Secretary Ema Sumarna reviews the implementation of PTM in Bandung (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

BANDUNG - A total of 54 schools in Bandung City, West Java Province will most likely hold face-to-face learning next week. Teaching and learning activities at this school were previously suspended following the findings of COVID in students and teachers.

"Schools that were temporarily suspended yesterday (face-to-face learning activities) will most likely be able to restart PTMT (limited face-to-face learning) next week", said Head of the Institutional and Elementary School Student Section of the Bandung City Education Office, Risman Al Isnaeni in Bandung, Antara, Tuesday, November 9th.

According to him, currently, the majority of students and teachers who were infected with COVID-19 at school have recovered. Meanwhile, the inspection, tracking, and handling of cases of transmission of the Coronavirus in these schools are also almost complete.

He explained, based on an evaluation conducted by the Education Office, students and teachers could be infected with COVID-19 in a small school environment, considering that strict health protocols were implemented.

"From the time students enter the gate until they leave the gate, it is very strict. The possibility of not being exposed at school. Moreover, the implementation of PTMT is only two hours and not every day. So it is possible (infected) outside", he said.

Previously, the Bandung City Education Office and Health Office conducted random COVID-19 tests on students in 214 schools.

Of the 8,157 examinations carried out, officers found 265 people consisting of 244 students and 21 teachers tested positive for COVID-19. After the findings of cases of COVID-19 transmission to students and teachers, the limited face-to-face learning in 54 schools was temporarily suspended.

The temporary suspension of face-to-face teaching and learning activities was carried out because the number of school residents affected by COVID-19 exceeded five percent of the number of people active in these schools.

Risman said schools that were able to return to conducting limited face-to-face learning were required to routinely submit reports to the Education Office regarding the number of students and teachers present at the school, the number of students and teachers who were sick, and school residents confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.