Anies Baswedan Really Wants 100 Percent PTM Amid The COVID-19 Surge To Stop, But Is Blocked By Central Government Regulations

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - The urge for Jakarta to stop 100 percent face-to-face learning (PTM) continues to emerge. Finally, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan expressed his desire to temporarily stop PTM.

However, Anies cannot simply change the rules of PTM 100 percent and replace it with distance learning (PJJ).

This is because said Anies, the central government has determined that PTM 100 will still be applied to regions that apply during the Level 2 restriction on community activities (PPKM) such as Jakarta now.

"So the face-to-face learning is regulated through a 4-ministerial SKB whose 4-ministerial SKB is linked to the PPKM level whose PPKM is set through the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction", Anies said when met in the East Jakarta area, Wednesday, January 2.

Thus, during PPKM, all decisions are in the hands of the central government. Meanwhile, during the last PSBB, Anies could immediately make rules through a governor's regulation.

"It's different from when we used the PSBB regime. At the time of PSBB, decisions about face-to-face learning were regulated through the governor's authority. Now, this is regulated through a decision from the Central Government", he said.

Therefore, Anies admitted that he had requested permission from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as the PPKM Coordinator for Java and Bali so that Jakarta could stop PTM 100 percent for one month.

"This afternoon I communicated with Pak Luhut as the Chair of the Java-Bali COVID-19 Task Force to submit a proposal for Jakarta, PTM or face-to-face learning to be abolished for the next one month", he said.

Regarding when to stop PTM and continue online distance learning (PJJ), Anies will announce if a decision has been made. "This is being discussed. After the discussion is over, we will tell you what the results are", Anies continued.

Anies admitted that he realized that the health of school-age children was more important amid the threat of an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the spread of Omicron. Therefore, Anies wants PTM 100 percent to be discontinued.

"We are well aware that conditions in Jakarta require children to reduce risks and the suggestion from Jakarta is that we stop PTM and we 100 percent study from home. What the results will be, we will update later", he added.