Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) Chairman Prof. Unifah Rosyidi expressed belief that the teacher vaccination program had become a strategic effort to fast-track face-to-face learning.

"We warmly welcome this teacher vaccination program, as it is a strategic effort to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19, and this is an effort to accelerate face-to-face learning and teaching safely and comfortably," Rosyidi remarked when contacted in Jakarta, Wednesday.

The PGRI chairman noted that the initial stage of vaccination for educators and education personnel aims to cover 650 teachers and lecturers, non-formal and informal educators, and several education activists.

The number of teachers participating in the vaccination comprise 50 early childhood education center (PAUD) teachers; 90 elementary school teachers; 70 junior high school teachers; 111 high school teachers; 50 vocational school teachers; 25 extraordinary schools teachers; 50 Islamic school teachers; 130 lecturers; 24 tutors for packages A, B, and C; and 50 people from teachers’ organizations.

"The organizations that attended this time were PGRI, FSGI, IGI, PP Pergunu, Teacher Forum, Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian Christian Education Council, the National Council for Catholic Education, the Association of Indonesian Private Teachers, the Association of Indonesian Early Childhood Educators and Education Personnel (HIMPAUDI), and The Association of Indonesian Art and Culture Teachers," she stated.

Rosyidi remarked that civil servants and honorary teachers will be vaccinated in future.

More number of honorary teachers had also been observed during the launch of the vaccination program.

The PGRI chairman stated that PGRI, as a teachers’ organization, persistently encourages all teachers to get vaccinated.

"Of course, teachers, who participate in the vaccination program, have to fulfill some health requirements and do not suffer from congenital diseases apart from other requirements to be vaccinated," she explained.

Teachers are urged to exercise patience whilst awaiting their turn to be inoculated and also called on educators and education personnel to become the agents of change that can break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, Rosyidi affirmed.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had earlier borne witness to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to teachers at the state senior high school building SMA Negeri 70 in South Jakarta on Wednesday.

The president, in the company of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim, and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, arrived at the school building at 11:10 Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

In total, 650 public service officers, comprising teachers, lecturers, and other education workers from across Jakarta, received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at the school building on Wednesday. Related news: President observes COVID-19 vaccination of teachers in Jakarta
Related news: 4,500 Cianjur teachers to undergo swab tests before resuming classes


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Translator: Indriani, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
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