Educational Institutions in Yellow, Orange, Red Zones Still Prohibited to Open

A screenshot of Minister of Education and Culture’s presentation on the Webinar on Guidelines for Organizing Learning in the New Academic Year during the COVID-19 pandemic, Monday (15/6).

Educational institutions located in the yellow, orange, and red zones are still prohibited to open, Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim has stated.

“Educational institutions located in these zones must continue to provide distance learning,” the Minister said in a webinar, Monday (15/6).

Nadiem said that the principle of policies on education during the COVID-19 pandemic is to maintain the health and safety of students, educators, education personnel, families, and communities.

The 2020/2021 new academic year for early childhood education, primary education, and secondary education will start in July 2020.

Regarding the number of students, the Minister explained that as of 15 June 2020, 94 percent of students are domiciled in the yellow, orange and red zones in 429 regencies/cities and 6 percent of students are domiciled in the green zone.

Nadiem also explained that the decision-making process for allowing the face-to-face learning for educational institution located in the green zone will take into account very strict and multi-layered requirements, which are:

First, the education institution must be domiciled in the green zone. This is the first and foremost requirement that must be met for educational institutions to conduct face-to-face learning.

Second, permit from regional government or regional office/local office of Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Third, the educational institution must fulfill all checklists and is ready to conduct face-to-face learning.

Fourth, approval from parents/guardians for their children to participate in face-to-face learning in educational institutions.

“If one of the four requirements is not fulfilled, students must continue to conduct full distance learning,” the Minister said.

Nadiem also invited all stakeholders, including all regional heads, heads of educational institutions, parents, teachers, and communities to join hands to prepare for learning in the new academic year.

“With the spirit of mutual cooperation, I am sure we will be able to overcome all these challenges,” he said.

For the record, Ministry of Education and Culture, along with the National COVID-19 Task Force, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), and the Commission 10 of the House of Representatives, through a webinar, has announced plan to formulate a Joint Decree of the Four Ministries on Guidelines for Organizing Learning in the New Academic Year during COVID-19 Pandemic.

The guidelines, which are compiled from the results of cooperation between several ministries, are aimed at preparing educational institution to face the new normal (PR of Ministry of Education and Culture/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Yuyu Mulyani