Bandung, W Java (ANTARA) - The West Java Provincial Education Office revealed that 1,471 high schools (SMA) and vocational high schools (SMK) in its region had started conducting face-to-face learning this week.

"Some 1,471 schools (high schools and vocational schools) are conducting face-to-face learning, starting this week, both public and private," Head of the West Java Provincial Education Office, Dedi Supandi, stated after monitoring the implementation of face-to-face learning here on Wednesday.

Supandi noted that the number of students partaking in face-to-face learning at schools during the COVID-19 pandemic reached only 25 percent in vocational schools and 50 percent in high schools.

According to Supandi, the schools implementing limited face-to-face learning comprised those applying shift and block patterns.

"They implement shifts, for instance, the school starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m. local time after which they will spray disinfectant. There are vocational schools that schedule face-to-face learning per week or block," Supandi remarked.

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In order to prevent the emergence of COVID-19 clusters in the school environment, he noted that each school had formed a task force to conduct supervision during face-to-face learning.

"In the event (of COVID-19 transmission) at school, it should be immediately handled and the matter will later be reported to the community health center or to the COVID-19 Task Force immediately," he affirmed.

Students participating in online learning remotely for months welcomed the re-implementation of teaching and learning activities in schools or face-to-face learning.

Hasna Nabila, one of the students of the 3 Bandung City Public Vocational School, admitted that it was easier to understand the subject matter presented by the teacher in face-to-face learning.

"Online learning is challenging for those of us who are majoring in fashion. The material, if given online, is difficult to understand. Face-to-face learning helps us to understand the subject better," she remarked. (

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Translator: Ajat Sudrajat, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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