Minister Of Education And Culture Nadiem Permits Local Governments To Open Schools In All Zones Starting In 2021

Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim (Photo: Nadiem Makarin)

JAKARTA - Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) Nadiem Makarim has allowed local governments to open schools or carry out face-to-face learning activities starting January 2021. The opening of these schools is no longer based on zoning for the spread of COVID-19 as he had previously conveyed.

"The big difference with the previous SKB, the risk zoning map no longer determines the granting of face-to-face learning permits but the local government determines it, so it can select areas in a more detailed way," said Nadiem in an online press conference broadcast on the YouTube account of the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture. Friday, November 20.

"This policy applies from the even semester of the 2020-2021 school year. It will be January 2021," he added.

With the time lag for face-to-face learning, Nadiem hopes that local governments and schools can prepare themselves.

"If you want to meet face to face, you must immediately increase your readiness to implement this from now until the end of the year," he said.

Furthermore, Nadiem explained that the decision to open schools would be taken by three interested parties, namely the local government, regional offices (Kanwil) and parents through the school committee. Even though face-to-face learning is carried out, parents can determine whether their children attend school or not. Given that face-to-face learning is only allowed, not compulsory for all students.

"So, even if the school is opened, I have to emphasize again, that parents can still not allow their children to do face-to-face learning. Even though the school is open, the final decision is still with the parents," he said.

On that occasion, the Minister of Education and Culture also explained what must be considered for local governments to grant permission to open schools, such as paying attention to the risk of spreading COVID-19, the readiness of health service facilities, to the availability of transportation and the geographical conditions of each area.

It is known that in August Nadiem actually allowed schools in the yellow and green zones to conduct face-to-face learning. The decision to open the school was made after Nadiem considered distance learning activities (PJJ) in a number of areas to be considered not running optimally.