Students In Surabaya Must Swab Test And Parental Permission Before Returning To School

Illustration of face-to-face learning at school (doc. Antara)

SURABAYA - The city of Surabaya has started to reintroduce face-to-face schools for elementary school (SD) students. The plan is for students to return to school in January 2021.

Head of the Surabaya City Education Office (Dispendik) Supomo in Surabaya, Tuesday, said that there were several provisions made in face-to-face schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, namely, students and teachers had to be in good health and had previously taken swab with negative results.

"Then there is approval by the parents. So all of them (students) who come to the school face-to-face must get approval from their parents," said Supomo, Tuesday, December 15.

In addition, he said, face-to-face simulations can be held with the condition of approval from the school committee and support for health protocol infrastructure at the school. "For the rest, the health protocol infrastructure must be prepared by calculating the number of students who come," he said.

In carrying out this face-to-face school simulation, he said, his party also involved institutions that were concerned in the health sector with the hope that they could provide input and evaluation so that the face-to-face learning process in schools ran smoothly and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini previously said, for the initial stage, the plan for face-to-face simulations for grade VI SD students will be followed by 25 schools spread across five regions of Surabaya, namely West, Central, North, South and East.

"I want it to have a simulation at the beginning before they enter school. So later in the end of December we will have a simulation to familiarize school children," he said.

The Surabaya Administration for Education previously also held face-to-face school simulations for grade IX SMP students. The simulation, which has been going on since Monday (7/12), was attended by 14 public and private junior high schools in Surabaya.

"It's been one week starting last Monday. Alhamdulillah, there are no problems for junior high school students, but not for elementary school," he said.

Therefore, the Mayor of Risma wanted a simulation for elementary school students. This is done to get a complete picture of how students follow the learning process at school. "Because it's different, junior high school students are easier to direct. So before entering school, I want to have a simulation," he said.