Two Blades Of Plans To Open Schools In The Middle Of COVID-19

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Status of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in DKI will end in one day. DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has yet to decide whether to relax or even extend the PSBB status for the fourth time.

One contentious limitation is the reopening of schools for student learning. During the PSBB period, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government implemented an online home study system.

Currently, the DKI Education Agency has issued a one-year education calendar for the 2020/2021 school year for all students. However, the calendar which starts on July 13 does not mean that students can return to school. This is because the government is still considering the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Then, the plan to reopen schools was actually debated. Secretary of Commission E for People's Welfare, Jhonny Simanjuntak, considered that if the school was reopened when the number of COVID-19 cases was still high, it would endanger the health of students.

Because, according to him, students, especially at the elementary school level, still do not really understand the importance of preventing the corona virus, such as maintaining a safe distance, wearing masks, and always washing their hands.

"At school it can be controlled by the teacher, but when we come home from school, on the way, this is dangerous. If we postpone education for another 4 months or 3 months when the case curve is decreasing, it wouldn't be too disturbing," said Jhonny when contacted, Tuesday. , June 2.

Jhonny said, nowadays teachers should be able to intensify students to work independently, while still having control and supervision from the school to the children at home.

Therefore, the relationship between the school and the parents of students must be built so that parents are also responsible for education.

"So, there is an intensive contact between the teacher and the parents of the students. For example, the class teacher creates a WhatsApp group with the parents of the students. So, the homeroom teacher has consistent communication with the parents through the group," he explained.

Another thing with Jhonny, Member of Commission E DPRD DKI Zita Anjani actually rejected the protracted school closure. According to him, online learning has not been very effective. Not all teachers are skilled at teaching online. Students' understanding is also difficult to develop.

"Children are already stressed because their emotional and social development is disturbed. I can't stand to see them being uprooted from their world. The state must prepare a world that is safe for children, not hang it up and even distance it," said Zita.

The deputy chairman of the DKI DPRD also questioned the ministry's readiness in preparing an online learning curriculum. Then, the procedure for organizing the new normal education that President Joko Widodo has instructed has not yet been conveyed.

"There needs to be infrastructure such as an adequate number of sinks for washing hands. Create an online curriculum that can be used as a guide. If this is ready, schools can also be opened tomorrow. If not prepared, December is still at risk," said Zita.