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Majority of students want to return to school in January: KPAI survey
The survey, which was conducted earlier this month, involved 62,448 students.
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Students join a simulation for future in-classroom learning, which is set to start in January 2021, at SDN Karang Raharja 02 state elementary school in Cikarang, Bekasi regency, West Java, on Dec. 15. (Antara/Fakhri Hermansyah)
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s the government has allowed schools to reopen in January, the National Child Protection Commission (KPAI) conducted a survey to learn about the student’s point of view on the plan.
The survey, which was conducted earlier this month, involved 62,448 students.
It discovered that 78.17 percent of them agreed to resume classroom learning in January 2021, followed by 16.13 percent saying they felt unsure about the plan and around 10 percent saying they disagreed.
Among those who rejected the school reopening plan, 45 percent said they were afraid of contracting COVID-19.
The survey, which was initiated by KPAI commissioner Retno Listyarti, found that most respondents were bored with at-home learning and needed a different approach to studying.
Retno added that some students said they found it difficult to learn certain subjects at home.
“Fifty-six percent of the respondents [had] this problem, especially those in sixth grade, ninth grade and 12th grade,” said Retno in a statement as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.
Moreover, the survey also found that among the respondents, 94.75 percent said their schools had yet to host classroom learning, while 5.25 percent said their schools had started a combination of at-home and in-class learning.
Among those who have participated in the blended learning model, 91.96 percent said their schools had prepared hand-washing facilities, while 8.04 percent said they had not seen any hand-washing basins or sinks at their schools.
Read also: Impacts of at-home learning not negative for all student levels: IPK study
Meanwhile, 67.31 percent said their school had a disinfectant chamber.
To ensure students' and teachers’ safety, KPAI has urged the central government and local administrations to cautiously prepare school reopening plans.
“We need to be cautioned as [resuming in-classroom learning] may lead to new [COVID-19] clusters,” Retno said.
According to the survey, 52 percent of respondents said they were never given an announcement or circular at their schools on standard operating procedures for in-class learning in the so-called new normal.
Furthermore, 77 percent said they were never given an explanation on their schools’ reopening plans.
In response to the survey’s results, KPAI encouraged the government to create guidelines for schools to start in-classroom learning.
“If the schools are not ready, it’s best to postpone the plans,” Retno said.
Last month, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim announced that the government would allow local administrations, schools and parents decide whether to resume on-campus activities, taking into consideration the risks of COVID-19 transmission.
“School reopening can be done immediately or in stages according to each region’s capability and the decision of their regional heads. The schools wanting to reopen must fulfill a checklist [of requirements] for face-to-face teaching and health protocols,” Nadiem said on Nov. 20.
The policy is a major departure from a previous school reopening policy set out in June, which allowed only schools in green and yellow zones to conduct face-to-face learning. The new policy allows schools in red zones to reopen. (jes)
Editor’s note: This article is part of a public campaign by the COVID-19 task force to raise people’s awareness about the pandemic.
