Education Ministry Adjusts Several Policies Amid COVID-19
Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim delivers his statement during a media briefing on Adaptation of Educational System during COVID-19 at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (14/5). (Photo by: Ministry of Education and Culture)
In the time of COVID-19, Ministry of Education and Culture has made various learning adjustments to avoid burden on teachers and students while still valuing character strengthening.
This adjustment is contained in Circular Number 2 of 2020 on Prevention and Management of COVID-19 within the Ministry of Education and Culture and Circular Number 3 of 2020 on Prevention of COVID-19 in the Education Unit.
“We encourage teachers not to complete all the material in the curriculum. It is of utmost importance that students are still involved in relevant learning such as life skills, health education, and empathy,” Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim said during a media briefing on Adaptation of Educational System during COVID-19 at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (14/5).
The Ministry also issued various policies responding to the COVID-19 situation, such as cancellation of the national exam (UN), adjustment of school exams, implementation of distance learning, and an online approach to the process of student registration according to Circular Number 4 of 2020 on Implementation of Education Policy in Emergency during COVID-19 Spread.
In addition, the Ministry also adjusted policy on the flexible use of School Operational Assistance (BOS) and Educational Operational Assistance (BOP) to meet school needs during the pandemic.
This refers to the two latest regulations, namely (1) Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 19 of 2020 on Amendment to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 8 of 2020 on Technical Instructions for Regular School Operational Assistance; and (2) Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 20 of 2020 on Amendment to the Regulation of Minister of Education and Culture Number 13 of 2020 on Technical Instructions for Non-Physical Special Allocation Fund for Operational Assistance for the Implementation of Early Childhood Education and Equivalency Education for the 2020 Fiscal Year.
The forms of resource relocation that have been undertaken by the Ministry are (1) Medical and health student volunteer programs that have gathered more than 15,000 people throughout Indonesia; (2) Activating university medical facilities throughout Indonesia as COVID-19 Test Center. There are currently 18 laboratories and 13 hospitals for patient care; (3) Allocating ministerial training center dormitories for quarantine namely at Educational Quality Assurance Council (LPMP) and Center for Teacher and Education Personnel Development and Empowerment (P4TK) throughout Indonesia; and (4) budget reallocation for COVID-19 handling which reaches Rp405 billion. (Ministry of Education and Culture PR/EN)
Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Mia M. Bonaedy
