DKI Provincial Government Still Maintains PTM Because Online Schools Are Not Optimal

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government still maintains that face-to-face learning (PTM) is limited to 100 percent because it considers that online schools or Distance Learning (PJJ) which have been going on for two years are not optimal.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria emphasized that PTM in schools was still running but that did not mean ignoring the increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 and the distribution of the new variant of Omicron.

"We don't mean to ignore the increase in COVID-19 and Omicron, moreover we must also pay attention to the quality of education. In the past two years our children have gone online to school, the results are not optimal, not optimal," said Riza, quoted by Antara, Friday, January 28.

Riza said that of the 90 schools that were temporarily closed due to positive cases in students, now only two schools are still closed.

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government still applies a limited PTM of 100 percent because PPKM statistics in the Capital City are at level 2, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) which requires PTM to be carried out at levels 1 and 2.

In addition, vaccination coverage in DKI Jakarta for students reaches 98 percent and for educators 90 percent.

According to Riza, not all children can learn independently at home and not all parents can accompany their children to study. Students must interact with teachers and they need professionals to be able to teach science, namely teachers.

Parents are also allowed not to allow their children to go to school because the implementation of PTM is not mandatory or coercive.

"Thank you to all who recommended (schools) to be closed or reduced, but we DKI Provincial Government are following the policies of the Central Government through the Ministry of Education and Culture," he said.