Jakarta (ANTARA) - Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Suharti urged policy makers in the education sector to support restoration of education services by immediately commencing face-to-face learning (PTM) in schools.

"I invited all participants from this webinar, especially from local governments, education units, and students, to restore education services during this COVID-19 pandemic," Suharti noted during a webinar in Jakarta, Tuesday.

The ministry's secretary general later outlined several aspects to take into account in learning recovery, including encouraging 100-percent safety in PTM, learning recovery, information and communication technology utilization in education services, as well as support from local governments, education units, and students, who were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In an effort to restore the learning process and education service after the pandemic, we need a structured, systematic, and massive strategy from various parties, who had resources to encourage learning recovery," she remarked.

Suharti explained that learning and teaching activities during the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted in three forms: full distance learning, limited face-to-face learning, and mixed learning.

The government had made efforts in restoring education services by adjusting learning policies during the pandemic through a 4 Ministerial Decree, establishing an Emergency Curriculum, preparing an Independent Curriculum as an effort to restore learning, adjusting the school operational assistance (BOS) policies, as well as adjusting BOS Affirmation and BOS Performance.

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The government had also provided ICT assistance, internet quotas, wage subsidies, and Clean and Healthy Behavior (PHBS) facilities; increased the capacity of educators and education staff in facilitating learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in distance learning, as well as online and offline mixed learning.

In addition, the government had made available learning platforms and resources, such as online learning platforms in collaboration with the private sector, digital teaching materials, independent modules, and Learning From Home programs on TVRI and TV Education.

The government had also prepared national support programs, such as the Teaching Campus Program involving 38 thousand students; and created the COVID-19 Thematic Community Service Program and readied 15 thousand National COVID-19 Volunteers and 185 thousand Behavior Change Ambassadors from students, teachers, and the community.

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Translator: Indriani, Resinta Sulistiyanda
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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