Most employees are now working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But what about young people who are still studying?

In a situation unprecedented in human history, more than 2 billion children and young people across the globe, including around 100 million in Indonesia, have been affected by the closure of schools and universities.

Such measures were taken in an effort to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19. It first appeared in China’s Wuhan city in December and has now spread to 199 countries, killing 24,090 and infecting 532,263 people according to www.worldometers.info/coronavirus as of March 27.

Meanwhile on the same day, Indonesia had reported 1046 cases and 87 deaths.

Indonesia, like all other countries, has shut down all schools, institutes and universities in the second week of March.

In a brave decision, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim on March 23 scrapped the national examinations for primary, junior high school and senior high school students.

Most schools do not want to disrupt the learning process.

“We have already made preparations for online teaching. We are continuing the teaching process and conducting examinations online,” Philipps Mathew, a science teacher at a private school in West Jakarta that follows the Cambridge curriculum, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

It is a new experience for many students.

“I never did this before. It is new for me. My teacher gave me several assignments to do at home online. It is very difficult to find information and study, especially subjects like mathematics, says Muhammad Ryanda Daniswara, an 11th grade student at SMA 97 state senior high school in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Many parents are worried about their children’s performance in the annual examinations.

“I am worried about my son’s performance in the annual examinations. He is struggling to complete his assignments online. It is self-learning and no teaching. The school must use a different type of evaluation system.” Evi Daneta, who works at a bank, told the Post on Thursday.

Enchoing a similar concern, Muhammad Donny Devanda, a student from Bina Nusantara University. (Courtesy of Evi Daneta)

What about the situation in universities?

On March 19, one of Indonesia’s top universities, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), shut down the campus and asked its students and lecturers to continue academic activities online. This will continue until the end of this semester, which is May 29.

But there are many problems.

“I am using the Zoom application to chat with my lecturers and we will also use video conference technology. But it is not like the regular process. I am doing my best but I am also worried about my performance in the examinations,” Rafael Niko Navarro, a second semester student at ITB’s School of Life Sciences and Technology, told the Post.

According to Rafael, there are many problems like not having a good internet connection or access to labs and workshops.

“I am proud of my lecturers, who are always ready to help through our chatting group if we have any doubts,” he said.

Echoing a similar concern, Muhammad Donny Devanda, a student from Bina Nusantara University (Binus) in West Jakarta said it would not be easy to study or learn on one’s own online about tough subjects.

Donny said things would improve after having attended several online classes, which would begin in the second half of the semester.

“Since it is a new process of learning, we need some experience and adjustment to the new system. After attending e-classes through video conference, I hope things will improve,” Donny said.

Given the limitations of online learning as well as concerns of students, parents and teachers, both the government and educational institutions must make policy adjustments in academic activities and assessment.

The government must provide free internet connection and waive tuition or school fees for this semester.

“Many poor parents do not have access to internet and computers. How can their children learn online? Due to COVID-19, many people have lost their daily or monthly incomes, so they are not in a position to pay the tuition fee,” says Muhammad Faisal, a motorcycle taxi driver, in West Jakarta.

In the last two weeks, Faisal has lost more than 60 percent of his daily income.

“I used to get eight to 10 passengers a day. Now it is very difficult to get three passengers a day. My main worry is how to get food for my family each day. How can I pay my son’s school fee and internet connection?” he asked.

Technologically and technically, it is feasible to provide free internet connection. The Jakarta administration must consider providing free Wi-Fi across the entire city until this crisis is over. Now access to the internet has become a basic need as well as a human right.

Given the grave situation, educational institutions are considering reducing assignments, revising pass percentages, reviewing internal and external assessment standards, facilitating effective and regular communication among teachers, students and parents through group chats, and finally, making alternative arrangements for students who do not have access to the internet.

It will be a Herculean task for teachers and lecturers to do their jobs in isolation or lockdown. First, they have to take care of themselves and their families. They should be healthy to teach students.

Their workload will also be extremely heavy and they have to devote more time to listen to their students and clear their doubts. First they should have access to a reliable internet connection. Only then can they teach, evaluate assignments and monitor each student’s progress.

Teachers and lecturers must find innovative ways to teach students tough subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, medicine and technology in an easy and understandable way online.

Both the government and educational institutions must consider providing some financial incentives to teachers and lecturers for their exemplary work during this pandemic.

To continue the education process under such conditions, there should be greater cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders, including students, teachers, parents, the government and educational institutions. The quality might go down but the process of learning will continue.