Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is currently preparing a distance learning scheme for people with limited access to educational institutions.

The ministry's Director General of Vocational Education, Special Education, and Special Service Education, Tatang Muttaqin, stated that the scheme focuses on children living in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.

"Distance learning is aimed at responding to various situations, especially the geographic aspects, economic problems, and transboundary issues," he stated in a discussion event in Jakarta on Friday.

Muttaqin explained that the distance learning scheme is a solution to address these various problems, particularly in reducing the number of out-of-school children, which currently stands at 3.9 million.

He explained that the scheme is being gradually prepared through a roadmap extending until 2029. In 2025, the government will focus on preparing and developing infrastructure to support distance learning in various regions across Indonesia.

Meanwhile, in 2026, he added that teachers' training and development of learning modules will take place, enabling the distance learning scheme to begin rolling out in stages from 2027.

Furthermore, an assessment and evaluation system is planned for development in 2028, with additional consolidation and improvements scheduled for 2029.

"Distance learning was chosen as a strategy because it has broad coverage, is flexible, and inclusive. It also allows us to address limitations related to teaching staff, facilities, and funds, and it is certainly relevant to current conditions," he remarked.

This year, the pilot project of the distance learning scheme has started for Indonesian children living in East Malaysia, in collaboration with the Kinabalu City Overseas Indonesian School, Padalarang 2 State Senior High School, and Terbuka University.

The pilot project will run for the 2025-2026 academic year, targeting 93 children who have difficulty accessing education.

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