The government highlighted that universities must implement the limited PTM in stages, from preparation to implementation and to monitoring, as stipulated in Circular No.4/2021 on PTM organization for the 2021-2022 academic year, issued by the higher education, research and technology director general of the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry.

To optimize health protection, universities in regions designated PPKM levels 1-3 are advised to form their own COVID-19 handling task force to implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the health protocols on campus. In addition, students at the universities implementing the limited PTM must be healthy and fully vaccinated.

Universities must strictly implement the health protocols, such as by providing on-campus sanitation facilities, reducing narrow meeting points and avoiding crowds in addition to wearing masks and maintaining distance. They must also limit lectures to a maximum capacity of 50 percent and verify that students from other regions are healthy and have self-quarantined for 14 days or taken a swab test. Universities must also provide temporary isolation facilities and student emergency procedures.

Parisyanti “Paris” Nurwardani, the secretary to the ministry’s higher education director general, said that according to a survey conducted in July 2021, 63.9 percent of universities in the country had implemented the limited PTM program with a hybrid learning approach, while 82 percent declared their readiness to implement the limited PTM.

“It has been good news for all of us, so learning loss at universities will not be too steep,” said Paris.

The survey was conducted to discover the needs and monitor the situation on the ground toward developing the implementing guidelines for the limited PTM program.

According to Paris, the survey results show that universities were readying supporting facilities and access to implement the health protocols for the limited PTM program, such as by procuring handwashing facilities, disinfectant, and devices for measuring body temperature.

“[This includes] procuring transparent face masks for deaf students,” added Paris. “To this date, only 23 percent of universities provide this facility, so [the ministry] will help with the procurement.”

Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) rector Dr. Reini Wirahadikusumah welcomed resuming classes under the limited PTM program, which she said was pivotal to maximizing the quality of the learning environment.

“Based on our introspection over the last 18 months, the achievement of learning outcomes has been sufficient, as we are generally ready on the technology side. However, the learning atmosphere, which is equally important, has been lacking. So we must fight to regain that,” she said.

Reini also highlighted that no “euphoria” was detected while implementing the limited PTM program, and that the institute would ensure compliance with all existing regulations. She said that aside from regular monitoring of health protocol compliance, the ITB management had also made it mandatory for all students to get at least one vaccine dose.

“Vaccination has been set not only as a requirement for entering campus, but also for protecting health and the [campus environment], so the students can be ambassadors for vaccination and the health protocols,” she said.

ITB student Ilham Subandoro, who is also a high-performing student at the national level, said he was ready to promote the new guidelines. He therefore called on his peers to implement the limited PTM and to champion the on-campus health protocols as ambassadors to set a good example for other students. He also encouraged them to use their social media accounts to campaign for the on-campus health protocols.

In addition, he said, the limited PTM program must be viewed as an opportunity to maximize the university’s learning potentials.

“We need to motive ourselves and each other. The pandemic is no longer an obstacle to becoming a high performer. The key is to adapt and make use of the opportunities, like participating in online competitions that have been organized during the pandemic.”

Andreas Tambah, an expert from the National Education Commission, said that while the limited PTM program was a good opportunity to optimize learning, students were still advised to exercise caution because they were still living with COVID-19.

“Students are expected to enhance their health literacy, especially related to the coronavirus, so they are able to protect themselves and the people around them. As for universities, the management needs to guarantee student health while continuing the learning process,” he said.

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