Reopening of schools in Jakarta

As COVID-19 restrictions in Indonesia start to ease and the number of cases begins to decline, the government has been gradually permitting schools to reopen with strict requirements to allow students to attend face-to-face learning, otherwise known locally as PTM. The reason for this, according to Indonesia’s Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, is that they are ‘terrified if the next generation will be uneducated’. 

 

Similarly, Minister of Education Nadiem Makarim expressed that there could be a consequential ‘learning loss’ in students if they would further continue with home-based or remote learning. Particularly in Jakarta, more than 1.500 schools have resumed face-to-face classes lasting up to 4 hours since late August of 2021. Some schools occupy up to 30% of their overall capacity for classes, while others allow half their students to attend face-to-face classes per day, dividing the students into two teams and rotating them day-to-day. 

 

This new system for face-to-face classes has indeed prompted a discrepancy in opinions. Some teachers are wary of their students’ safety because of the hesitation to be stern, as well as due to fear of inadequate preparation. On one hand, parents who are in favour of face-to-face classes believe that home-based learning has reduced their children’s motivation to learn, and subsequently, has decreased their education quality. On the other hand, parents not in support of face-to-face classes are mainly concerned about the risk of their children contracting COVID-19, as only around 25.6% of Indonesia’s targeted population have been fully vaccinated and 1.299 COVID-19 clusters were found in schools. To mitigate the risk of more COVID-19 clusters forming in schools, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has declared that if more than 5% of students and staff in a school test positive, the school would have to close for 2 weeks while improving its health protocols.

 

As for Raffles Christian School Pondok Indah, it is important to note that only fully vaccinated students above the age of 12 may enter the school after showing their vaccination certificates. Team A, which consists of students who are permitted to go to school, will attend face-to-face classes one day a week for a limited number of hours, with 1 hour and 30 minutes of travel and lunch time allocated. Team B, consisting of students who are not permitted to attend face-to-face classes, will simultaneously join their respective classes via Zoom. Face-to-face classes will focus on English, Math, Science, as well as other examinable subjects. Students are to attend their CCAs via Zoom at home after the end of their lessons. 

 

While in school, students, teachers, and staff are obligated to follow strict health and safety protocols such as wearing masks, keeping a safe distance, washing or sanitizing hands regularly, as well as checking temperatures upon arrival. Anyone with a temperature higher than 37.3°C will not be allowed to enter the building. In addition, students from different divisions, namely Primary, Secondary, and Junior College, will enter the building from different gates intended strictly for drop-off and pick-up only. 

 

It is also ensured that students from different levels will not meet each other frequently since different classes will be using designated classrooms situated on several floors. Classrooms are frequently disinfected when not in use. Moreover, in the case that a student of staff shows symptoms of COVID-19, they must take a PCR test to reduce the risk of others getting infected.

 

As of October 10th 2021, Raffles Christian School Pondok Indah has received a letter from the government (SK) granting approval to reopen our school. Face-to-face classes are to resume starting from Monday, October 11th 2021, with different divisions coming to school once a week on their assigned days. Hopefully, face-to-face classes will mark the start to a fruitful new ‘normal’ school life for Rafflesians.