Jakarta (ANTARA) - Universities are prepared to implement limited face-to-face learning, acting director general of higher education, research, and technology at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nizam, said here on Tuesday.

"For instance, our friends in Surabaya and Padang have been preparing for this since the last semester," he noted.

According to Nizam, there are a number of universities that have started to implement limited face-to-face learning.

Limited face-to-face learning is being carried out in medical and engineering faculties, he said.

So far, no COVID-19 infection cluster has emerged in universities that have carried out face-to-face learning, he informed.

"There is no new cluster so far. The key is maintaining discipline in implementing the health protocols," he explained.

Universities have been carrying out face-to-face learning gradually in accordance with the availability of supporting facilities and infrastructure within the campus environment, Nizam said.

In addition, COVID-19 has brought lecturers and students closer to technology as well as encouraged universities to produce various innovations, he remarked.

"We are doing a serious effort so that many universities that are not yet optimal amid the pandemic can conduct acceleration," Nizam affirmed.

Meanwhile, several regions have rolled out 100-percent face-to-face learning in schools on Monday, he noted.

The policy refers to the joint decree (SKB) of four ministers on Learning Activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic Guide, which allows regions with Level 1 and 2 public activity restrictions (PPKM) to implement 100-percent PTM.

Responding to the decree, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani called for an evaluation of the implementation of 100-percent face-to-face learning (PTM) until vaccinations for children can be realized more equally.

Maharani asked the government to consider the advice of experts, who believe that 100-percent face-to-face learning should not be carried out at the moment.

Related news: School's readiness considered for full capacity face-to-face learning
Related news: South Jakarta asks reopened schools to intensify health protocol
Related news: House speaker seeks evaluation of face-to-face learning policy


Translator: Indriani, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022