Teachers climb hills, cross river to reach students amid COVID-19 outbreak

Tue, July 14, 2020 / 08:15 am

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SMP 4 Bawang state junior high school in Pranten in Bawang district, Batang regency, Central Java has been left empty for months as students are asked to study at home to contain the spread of COVID-19. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang principal Mulud Sugito and teacher Wiyata Bhakti (right) hand over a bundle of weekly assignments to a student named Khoerul Risal. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang student Khoerul Risal poses in front of his house in Batang regency, Central Java with his weekly assignments he just received from his teacher. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang student Dani Difanudin does his school assignment at home in Batang regency, Central Java. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang teacher Wiyata Bhakti (left) teaches one of his students at the latter’s house in Batang regency, Central Java. Schools in Central Java remain closed as the province records more COVID-19 cases. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang principal Mulud Sugito checks assignments from school. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang teachers in Batang regency, Central Java, sort assignment sheets before delivering them to students. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang principal Mulud Sugito (left) and teacher Wiyata Bhakti (center) are ready to deliver bundles of weekly assignments to their students’ houses in Batang regency, Central Java. JP/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang teachers walk dozens of kilometers to drop off weekly assignments at students’ homes in Batang regency, Central Java. JP/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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A village where the houses of some SMP 4 Bawang’s students are located in Batang regency, Central Java. JP/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang principal Mulud Sugito and teacher Wiyata Bhakti cross a river to reach their students’ houses. JP/Harviyan Perdana Putra
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SMP 4 Bawang principal Mulud Sugito and teacher Wiyata Bhakti climb a hill to drop off weekly assignments in Batang regency, Central Java. Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra

Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra

Twice a week, teachers of SMP 4 Bawang state junior high school in Batang regency, Central Java, go through an arduous journey to ensure their students’ access to education amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The school has a total of 43 students. However, only 35 students are attending classes during the epidemic.

The limited access to proper internet connection has left the school’s principal, Mulud Sugito, and 11 teachers with no choice but to deliver and collect the students’ weekly assignments by going door-to-door.

But it is not an easy task. Every Monday, they have to travel by foot for around 20 kilometers, which involves climbing hills and crossing a river, to drop off the assignments. They go through the same journey again every Saturday to pick up the tasks to be checked.

SMP 4 Bawang teachers are not alone. Many teachers across the archipelago – especially in areas with limited access to electricity and internet -- have gone the extra mile to stay in touch with students since schools have been closed after the government urged people in March to stay home during the health crisis. (vla)