"Additional conditions, such as vaccinations, that are not in accordance with the joint decree of four ministers are not allowed," Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Suharti noted in a written statement received here, Monday.
This decision is based on the Joint Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture, Minister of Religion, Minister of Health, and the Minister of Home Affairs (SKB 4 Ministers) regarding guidelines for the implementation of learning in the COVID-19 pandemic period that will take effect on December 21, 2021.
In organizing learning activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments and education units must refer to the provisions in the joint decree of four ministers and are not allowed to add requirements for the implementation of learning activities.
Suharti also remarked that the implementation of limited PTM must follow the provisions in the joint decree of the four ministers.
"We hope that the COVID-19 condition in Indonesia would improve. It is also important for the education office and schools to ensure that learning for all students can be safe and comfortable. The implementation of PTM must follow the guidelines in the joint decree from four ministers," she remarked.
Moreover, the government will continue to encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all citizens in the field of education, especially teachers and education personnel. However, student vaccination has never become a requirement for the implementation of PTM.
According to the Circular of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Number 3 of 2022, parents or guardians of students are given the option to allow their children to partake in limited PTM or Distance Learning (PJJ).
The government will also play a role in supervising and providing guidance on the implementation of limited PTM, especially in terms of disseminating information on the implementation of safe limited PTM to parents and guardians of students. Strict application of health protocols by educational units should also be ensured and behavioral surveys of compliance with health protocols and epidemiological surveillance in education units should also be conducted.
The local governments also accelerate COVID-19 vaccination for educators, education staff, and students. In addition, it is necessary to ensure the handling of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in educational units as well as to ensure the temporary suspension of limited PTM based on the results of epidemiological surveillance in accordance with the provisions in the Four Ministerial Decree.
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With the enactment of the latest circular, the Circular Letter of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Number 2 of 2022 on discretion for the implementation of the Joint Decree of the Four Ministers concerning guidelines for the implementation of learning during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is then declared invalid.
"The ministry is upbeat that all parties would work together to restore learning activities, so students can avail their rights to receive proper education. This has become our shared responsibility to conduct safe and comfortable PTM," she noted.
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Translator: Indriani, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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