SCG Survey: Balanced Aspirations, Government Should Consider Whether To Close Or Reopen Schools

ILLUSTRATION / Disdik DKI

SURABAYA - The COVID-19 pandemic is still happening. However, the polemic of opening schools has begun to be discussed in the people of Surabaya, East Java.

Based on a survey conducted by the Surabaya Consulting Group (SCG Consulting) at the end of last November with 1200 respondents, it received a balanced response from the people of Surabaya. As many as 51.17 percent agreed to close schools and 48.83 percent asked for schools to be opened.

"The government must carefully consider deciding to reopen schools, because the aspirations are relatively balanced. You could say half of them want to open and half of the residents want to stay at home online," said Ryan Baskara, Researcher at SCG Consulting in Surabaya, Tuesday, December 8. .

"This is different from the people's desire to open places of worship, which reached 94 percent. Perhaps the respondents' consideration was that the trust of adults in places of worship to obey protocols was higher than that of children at school. Some respondents were not sure that children would comply with health protocols at school, "said Ryan.

In this study, it was also found that community satisfaction with the performance of the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, was very strong.

"The results of the study are very clear that 68.5% of the people of Surabaya feel that Mrs. Risma and the ranks of the Surabaya City Government have been maximal in leading the handling of the prevention and spread of COVID-19," he said.

The variable of community satisfaction, among others, was obtained from the activities of the municipal government in spraying disinfectants on the streets, reaching 93.33 percent. Then the operation without wearing a mask is given sanctions and also gets a positive response from the community of 91.00 percent.

"The public also gave a positive appreciation of 72.33% for the policy of disbandment of the swab-hunter announcements carried out by the Surabaya City Government, such as disbanding publications at warkop, cafe or other hangout places," said Ryan.

"Regarding public perceptions with the emergence of the Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020, many believe this virus emerged due to natural factors as much as 75.83 percent. However, there are also people who believe that COVID-19 is an engineering factor of 24.17 percent," he added.