Head of the Surakarta Education Office Etty Retnowati, here on Friday, confirmed that her office had issued a circular notifying that schools with no case of COVID-19 exposure can implement face-to-face learning again on Monday.
However, Retnowati admitted to not being sure about how many schools would be able to implement face-to-face learning.
"All of them can (implement face-to-face learning). Maybe there are only a few schools that have not yet cleared their tracing," she remarked.
The office head affirmed that apart from implementing face-to-face learning, schools will also implement remote learning for students not allowed by their parents to go to school for offline learning.
"School should facilitate both modes (of learning), and schools can seek the parents' approvals again," she remarked.
The health office head emphasized that schools should continue to implement health protocols.
Meanwhile, regarding the classroom capacity, Retnowati noted that if the room is large, it can accommodate up to 28 people, while if the classroom is small, then the capacity will be cut to half.
On the same occasion, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka ensured that he would not compel those parents not keen to send their children to partake in face-to-face learning.
Related news: Discretion used if Jakarta schools' COVID-19 cases cross five percent
He affirmed that children can join remote learning if parents are still fearful of letting their children partake in offline learning.
"One week ahead, we will evaluate again," the Surakarta mayor noted.
Recently, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has allowed regions with level 1 and level 2 Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) to adjust the implementation of face-to-face learning in line with developments in the COVID-19 situation. This step was taken due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.
Related news: Jakarta to factor in BOR while deciding on offline school
Translator: Aris Wasita, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
