Face-to-face School In Palembang Only Two Days A Week, 50 Percent Capacity

Illustration/between

PALEMBANG - The city government of Palembang, South Sumatra has decided that the implementation of the face-to-face learning system (PTM) for elementary and junior high school students in the city will only take place on a limited basis for two days a week.

"Starting today, February 7, the policy has changed, PTM only lasts two days a week and is attended by 50 percent of students in each class. From the previous PTM was 100 percent and lasted three days," said Head of the Palembang City Education Office, Zulinto in Palembang, as reported by Antara, Monday, February 7th.

Meanwhile, for the other four days, said Zulinto, the students held online learning from their respective homes.

"Students are taught three subjects per day, each lesson lasting 30 minutes for elementary school students, and 35 minutes for junior high school students, so more or less 100 minutes per day," he said.

According to Zulinto, the PTM rule was implemented based on the results of a coordination meeting with the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the South Sumatra Ombudsman, and Dandim 0418/Palembang to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 exposure in schools.

Because over the last few days the Education Office of the city of Palembang found that there were already several elementary and junior high school students who were confirmed positive for COVID-19. The students who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 were currently recorded as coming from SD 142 in Gandus District, SMP 27 in Sako District, SMP 9 and SMP 10 in Kemuning District.

"At the time of the screening, there were students who were exposed to COVID-19, the detailed number, we don't know yet, all of them are currently under the supervision of the City Health Office," he said.

Responding to this, he asserted, referring to the circular letter of four ministers for each school whose students were confirmed positive for COVID-19, activities at the school were closed for 14 days and learning was transferred online.

"Activities at the school are closed for 14 days so that the principal can act quickly, coordinate with the Health Office or puskesmas. Meanwhile, learning is transferred online," he said.