“Not all schools have been able to implement the learning-from-home program,” she said in a webinar, themed “Get ready for a limited face-to-face learning” held last week.

Therefore, she went on, the ministry had organized a national survey to map out the real situation. The survey found that 78.3 percent of the 50,000 surveyed schools throughout the country had organized face-to-face learning. Some 80.4 percent of school principals and school committees had agreed to restart face-to-face learning. 

Of these 57.8 percent have conducted the face-to-face learning outside classes or schools, while 42.2 percent only conducted the face-to-face learning inside classrooms, due to limited resources or the environment.

She said the ministry had issued all necessary regulations to support the education process conducted during the pandemic and which prioritized health and safety. Among those regulations was the issuance of the joint ministerial decree (SKB) that encourages limited face-to-face classes that fit the school’s conditions and abides by health protocols. The decree also stipulates vaccination of all teachers and supporting staff.

“We need to encourage these limited face-to-face classes to happen,” she said.

A special curriculum, which only mandates basic competence, has been devised for the educational process during the pandemic. She, therefore, expected the teachers to be highly creative and innovative during the teaching process so their pupils could fully comprehend their subjects.

The limited face-to-face classes are slated to start this July. However, due to the recent spike in the number of new COVID-19 infections, mainly on Java Island, Education, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim said the face-to-face classes would be postponed if a local administration decided to implement public activity restrictions.

Speaking on the face-to-face classes’ preparations, headmaster of the SD 02 State Elementary School in Cebongan, Salatiga, Central Java, Sri Handayani said that before conducting the face-to-face classes, the school had asked for permission from the school committee and parents. All teachers had also been vaccinated and the local COVID-19 taskforce had also inspected the school’s conditions.

The school management closely cooperated with the education and health agencies, school committee and parents. “All of us have the sole purpose of making these face-to-face classes work.”

She added that all parents had been advised to prepare their children’s school utilities, including their own masks, hand sanitizers and lunches as the school’s canteen would remain closed. Parents have also been advised to take their own children to the school in order to make sure their children are safe and healthy.

As soon as they come to school, the students’ body temperatures will be checked first before entering. After passing the body temperature check, the students will be directed to wash their hands with soap before joining classes.

She said the face-to-face classes would be conducted twice a week, with a two- to three-hour duration for each meeting. A class of 30 pupils will be divided into two smaller classes of only 15 pupils so they can maintain distance during classes.

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