Education Minister Revises Regulation on School Operational Assistance

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 16 April 2020
Category: News
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School Operational Assistance (BOS). (Source: Ministry of Education and Culture)

Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim has revised Regulation of Minister of Education and Culture Number 8 of 2020 on Technical Guidelines for Regular School Operational Assistance (BOS).

Under Regulation of Minister of Education and Culture Number 19 of 2020 on Amendment to Regulation of Minister of Education and Culture Number 8 of 2020, School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds may be used to purchase internet data packages for teachers and students to support learning from home policy during the COVID-19 emergency period.

Article 9A of the Ministerial Regulation states that during the COVID-19 public health emergency status established by the Central Government, schools may also use Regular BOS funds to finance power and service subscriptions.

The financing of power and service subscriptions may be used to purchase credit, data packages, and/or paid online education services for teachers and/or students in the context of implementing learning from home.

Provision on the use of Regular BOS funds is valid from April 2020 until the revocation of COVID-19 emergency status by the Central Government.

According to Nadiem, revision of the Ministerial Regulation is made by taking into account various changes in conditions that have occurred since the COVID-19 emergency status is in place, including economic issues.

The revision, he added, is also aimed at increasing flexibility of the use of BOS funds which are under the discretion of school principals through consultation with the school committee and discussions with teachers.

“The point is that during this crisis, we want to provide convenience for principals and for those in need so they may use BOS funds in a flexible manner to ensure the convenience and comfort of online learning and the convenience of principals to obtain flexibility in using BOS funds,” the Minister said through video conference on Wednesday (15/4).

Nadiem also said that many school principals in the regions said they feel reluctant to use BOS funds to support online learning during the period of learning from home.

“With the revised Ministerial Regulation coming into force, schools in regions may use BOS funds for purchasing internet data packages,” he said, while reiterating that school principals have discretion in the use of BOS funds given that they are the ones who know best about school operational needs and the teachers’ needs in learning process.

The Minister further said he had ordered principals not to use the funds for unnecessary school needs, adding that the use of BOS funds shall be announced on school boards or through an online reporting. (Ministry of Education and Culture PR/EN)

 

 

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas

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