The international institute became one of the first Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama (SPK) in the capital to reopen for face-to-face teaching on April 7.

As a testament to its commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of its community, JIS has worked closely with experts from international health organizations alongside the Education and Culture Ministry to create a comprehensive plan that will allow students, teachers and staff members to remain safe on its campus.

Tarek Razik, JIS head of school, said in a statement that the school’s ability to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for students was an important factor in its efforts to reopen campuses starting on April 7, adding that students could safely return to class with stringent protocols and social-distancing guidelines in place.

“Our health and safety protocols were created and designed to ensure a clean and safe school. Students will be protected by various health practices from the moment they arrive in school and enter their campus and classrooms, to the time they leave to go back home. This is our commitment to maintaining the wellbeing of our entire community while still providing a high-quality educational experience in the new normal,” he explained.

JIS has based its comprehensive new-normal protocols on four primary pillars; cleanliness, health, safety (particularly during breaks), and social and emotional support.

For cleanliness, the school has ensured that every classroom is cleaned and disinfected with a nontoxic high-performing solution that kills both bacteria and viruses. From door handles and faucets to entire bathrooms, frequent touch points are cleaned throughout the day, with high-traffic areas being the main priority.

Along with mandatory face mask usage, JIS has a dedicated team of experienced medical workers on staff and on campus daily to provide health and medical care, including in schoolwide efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission. They have been trained to provide treatment for the virus and are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed for treating students. New PPE is used with every student and disposed of safely after use.

Hand-sanitizing stations are installed at every entry point including outside of classrooms, and reminders are routinely announced for the entire JIS community to wash their hands throughout the day, particularly during breaks.

Classrooms are outfitted with air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters and ion plasmacluster technology, which meet the clean air delivery rate (CADR) for the SARS family of viruses, including COVID-19.

Additionally, JIS has experienced counselors and psychologists on staff who are ready to counsel students who may feel anxious about coming back to school after a year of online learning.

As part of its commitment to working with Indonesia, JIS is ready to partner with other schools to help them prepare for their own safe return to in-classroom instruction according to government guidelines and regulations.

Momon Sulaeman, the Jakarta Education Agency’s head of elementary schools, special education and education services, reviewed JIS’ overall preparedness prior to its reopening.

“This pilot program aims to observe and determine the readiness of schools to resume face-to-face learning. The schools chosen to participate were selected after a rigorous assessment process that took into account their readiness in terms of health facilities and blended learning methodology,” he said, adding that JIS was one of 85 schools that met the criteria for both assessment and training.

“We hope that JIS can serve as an example for other schools in Jakarta and Indonesia.”

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