South Kalimantan DPRD Calls Antigen Swab Requirements For Students Studying Face-to-face Burdening

ILLUSTRATION/UNSPLASH

BANJARMASIN - Head of Commission IV for Welfare at the South Kalimantan DPRD, HM Lutfi Saifuddin, said that the antigen swab requirement for students participating in face-to-face learning (PTM) would be burdensome for parents and a waste of time using government facilities.

According to Saifuddin, with the current economic conditions and the limited financial condition of the local government, the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and the implementation of strict health protocols are sufficient for the implementation of PTM.

"The validity period of the antigen swab is only 1 X 24 hours, so the requirements for those who want to take part in the PTM are useless, meaning it's the same as wasting the budget," he said, quoted by Antara, Friday, October 15.

Saifuddin revealed that he would immediately send a letter of protest regarding the policy of students participating in PTM being required to have an antigen swab first.

"For each antigen swab, who will bear the costs. Meanwhile, the regional financial conditions are limited and the people's economy is not encouraging lately," said Lutfi.

Previously, the Head of the South Kalimantan Education and Culture Office, H Muhammad Yusuf Effendi, said that students who took part in PTM were required to take an antigen swab first.

"This provision is based on a circular from the South Kalimantan COVID-19 Cluster," he said.

For antigen swabs, it is said that they can cooperate or ask for help from the local Health Office (Dinkes).

According to Yusuf, the implementation of PTM in South Kalimantan, especially SMA, SMK and SLB whose management is under the authority of the provincial government (Pemprov)/Disdikbud has started this month.