Minister Of Education And Culture Nadiem Insists That Schools Be Opened: We Are Left Behind Other Countries

Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim explained the reason the government is obliged to open schools and other education units in July on the condition that teachers have been vaccinated.

Nadiem said Indonesia was one of the countries that were late in holding face-to-face learning from several countries that were also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are now behind other countries. Already 85 percent of countries in East Asia and the Pacific have conducted face-to-face learning", Nadiem said in a virtual press conference, Tuesday, March 30.

Moreover, he said, international organizations such as the World Bank, WHO, and UNICEF agreed that closing schools could deprive a generation of living income.

"The loss of learning is real. This is a risk that could have a permanent impact. Indonesia has been in one year, the majority of schools do not conduct face-to-face meetings. So this has been relatively too long", said Nadiem.

Also, the closure of these schools not only give a negative impact on learning but also on the health and mental development of children.

"For their parents, it is also very difficult to get economic opportunities to work outside because they also have to take care of their children at home. So, there are a lot of negative impacts", he explained.

Based on the data held, there is an increasing trend of children dropping out of school due to Distance Learning (PJJ). The factor is the decline in student learning outcomes because they have to study online.

Nadiem said many children find it difficult to catch lessons during PJJ. Limited supporting facilities such as devices also hinder students from learning. Many parents do not see the role of school in the learning process. So, many children were pulled out of school.

"This risk of PJJ is not only from learning but also the risk of the student's future and the risk of the psychosocial or mental and emotional health of children. These are all very vulnerable", said Nadiem.

"So, we have to take decisive action to prevent this from becoming a permanent impact and one generation being retarded or retarded in its development and mental health", he explained.