Bogor, Ministry of Education and Culture--- The Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) instructed that learning be conducted from home through Circular Letter Number 4 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of Education Policies during the Emergency Period of the Spread of Covid-19. This policy was adopted as an option to ensure that learning continues, even with various adjustments amid the health crisis caused by Covid-19.
In the circular, the ministry entrusted teachers with the responsibility of adjusting curriculum materials to ensure the learning process continues. "This curriculum simplification or streamlining allows teachers to focus on more essential materials, rather than on curriculum completeness, as deepening fundamental concepts is more important," said Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim on the sidelines of his visit to several schools in Bogor City, West Java, last week.
Minister Nadiem stated that the Ministry of Education and Culture has been relaxing the use of BOS funds since last April. One of the purposes is to assist schools in meeting priority needs, including supporting distance learning (PJJ). He hopes this will reduce the economic burden on parents who must facilitate their children's online learning.
"We recognize that implementing distance learning is not easy, especially given the limitations of infrastructure, including signal and electricity, costs, and so on. Therefore, we ask school principals to purchase school-priority supplies, such as phone credit for teachers and students, hand sanitizer , and so on," explained the Minister of Education and Culture.
The relaxation of regular School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds stems from the Ministry of Education and Culture's responsibility to ensure the safety of students, educators, and their families amid the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. Through Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 19 of 2020 concerning Amendments to the Technical Guidelines for Regular BOS, the Minister of Education and Culture allows school principals to determine the school's priority needs for BOS funds.
During his random visits to several schools in Bogor City, the Minister of Education and Culture praised the comprehensiveness of health and hygiene facilities, including sanitation facilities, handwashing stations, and adherence to mask use. "If a child is sick with any illness, not just COVID-19, they should not be allowed to attend school," Nadiem said.
The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to working with local governments and task forces to ensure that children return to school as safely and quickly as possible. This is based on the shared belief that face-to-face learning is the highest quality learning model. Nadiem Makarim believes that the current distance learning (PJJ) cannot match the quality of face-to-face learning. However, despite widespread calls to resume face-to-face learning in yellow zones, the Minister emphasized that school reopening depends on a region's ability to manage COVID-19 cases within its territory.
The Minister of Education and Culture stated that before allowing in-person learning in yellow zone areas, a detailed study is needed to determine school readiness and the task force's decision. " The checklist (of health protocols in schools) will be strictly enforced, and we ask for support from local governments at this time. We will do everything possible to ensure the safety and security of students upon their return to school, of course, with guidance from the task force and the existing zone classifications," he said.
Bogor Mayor Bima Arya accompanied the Minister of Education and Culture during the visit. He outlined four challenges facing his region: access, learning content, mobile phone credit availability, and educational payment schemes. "The Bogor regional government is mapping out areas that need infrastructure to support internet access. We are also helping teachers develop various learning models by engaging consultants," he concluded. (Denty. A/Aline)
