Education Minister to Coordinate Online Education Upon Schools Closures

President Joko Widodo responds to reporters’ questions after delivering a press statement at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday (16/3).

Ministry of Education and Culture as of Monday (16/3) is cooperating with technology-based online learning platforms in Indonesia such as Ruangguru, Zenius, Google, Microsoft, Quipper, Sekolahmu, and Kelas Pintar to carry out online learning process for free following the closing of schools due to Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The (online learning) process has been well-implemented. We also called on teachers to make use of the platforms so that ‘studying from home’ which will be implemented for the next two weeks can be effective,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo told reporters in a press conference at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday (16/3).

Effective online learning process, he added, will decrease mobility of students and eventually will reduce the spread of Covid-19. The process will be evaluated by the related minister and also by the President.

“Some schools may have the resources to conduct online learning process, some other schools may not; thus, swift action from schools and teachers is really important,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi also called on the students whose schools are closed and cannot do online learning process to stay at home.

He went on to say that the Government had prepared 132 referral hospitals, 109 Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) hospitals, 53 hospitals under the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and 64 hospitals under State-owned Enterprises for the peak of Covid-19 spread which is predicted to occur in fasting month of Ramadan.

In case those hospitals are not enough for Covid-19, the President said that the Government will also involve private hospitals.

“We have calculated what would happen at the peak (of Covid-19 spread), and I have instructed Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Trade, and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to maintain the availability of consumer goods, including staple foods which is managed by the Bulog,” he said adding that the staple foods include rice, garlic, and sugar.

The Head of State also confirmed that he, the First Lady, and Indonesia Onward Cabinet ministers have tested for Covid-19. (HIM/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany S
Reviewed by: Lulu Wuliarti