Jakarta, Ministry of Education and Culture --- As the Covid-19 emergency status evolves, which has presented various challenges to distance learning, the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) has also implemented various learning adjustments that do not burden teachers and students but are rich in character-building values. These adjustments are outlined in Circular Letter Number 2 of 2020 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Covid-19 within the Ministry of Education and Culture and Circular Letter Number 3 of 2020 concerning the Prevention of Covid-19 in Educational Units.
"We encourage teachers not to cover all the material in the curriculum. The most important thing is that students remain engaged in relevant learning such as life skills, health, and empathy," said Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud), Nadiem Anwar Makarim, at a media briefing on Adapting the Education System during Covid-19, a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Head of the Expert Team for Handling Covid-19, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Thursday (May 14, 2020).
Not only that, a series of other policies were also issued in response to the development of the spread of Covid-19, such as the cancellation of the national exam (UN), adjustments to school exams, implementation of distance learning, and an online approach for the student registration process in accordance with circular letter Number 4 of 2020 concerning the implementation of education policies during the emergency period of the spread of Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19).
In addition, there is a flexible policy for adjusting the use of school operational assistance (BOS) and BOP to meet school needs during the pandemic. This refers to two recent regulations, namely (1). Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 19 of 2020 concerning Amendments to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 8 of 2020 concerning Technical Instructions for Regular School Operational Assistance, (2). Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 20 of 2020 concerning Amendments to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 13 of 2020 concerning Technical Instructions for Non-Physical Special Allocation Funds for Operational Assistance for the Implementation of Early Childhood Education and Equivalency Education for the 2020 Fiscal Year.
The Ministry of Education and Culture has implemented several forms of resource relocation, including: (1) a volunteer program for medical and health students, which has attracted more than 15,000 people across Indonesia; (2) activating university medical facilities across Indonesia as Covid-19 test centers. Currently, there are 18 laboratories and 13 hospitals for patient care; (3) allocating dormitories at ministry training centers for quarantine, specifically at the LPMP and P4TK throughout Indonesia; and (4) reallocating a budget of Rp 405 billion for handling Covid-19. (Denty A./Aline)
