Stay Motivated to Learn Outside School, President Jokowi Tells Indonesian Children

President Jokowi during the peak event of the 2021 National Children’s Day held online, Friday (23/07). (Photo: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (23/07) attended the peak event of the 2021 National Children’s Day that was held through video streaming.

During the event, the President had a dialogue with several students from Sudimara elementary school in Cilongok subdistrict, Banyumas regency, Central Java province.

The President told the children that although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from going to school, they must remain motivated to learn outside school.

“Amid the pandemic, I am aware that children are at home most of the time. They do not go to school. However, children must stay motivated in learning. They must continue to learn outside school,” he said.

On that occasion, one of the students, Imelda, a fifth-grade student, asked the President: “Sir, I want to learn from school. Staying at home for too long makes me bored.”

In response to that, the President told her the Government has previously planned to reopen in-school learning this month; yet due to a spike in COVID-19 active cases, the plan has to be postponed until the situation improves.

“If the coronavirus pandemic is getting better and (the number of active cases) has reduced, we will reopen in-school learning,” the President answered.

Another student, Amanda, asked the President about presidential duties, followed by other students asking whether or not being a President is exhausting.

“What does a President do?” Amanda asked.

“Presiding over meetings with ministers, the visiting (places from) Aceh province to Papua province to check roads whether they are good, to check dams, to check seaports, to check airports,” the President replied.

“Sir, does a President have days off?” another student asked to which the President responded with laughter.

Closing the dialogue, the President reminded the children to stay diligent in learning and to be disciplined in observing health protocols amid the pandemic.

“My dear children, all of you are the future of Indonesia. You must stay motivated in learning, be happy, be diligent in praying. Do not forget to pray to God. Pray for protection for us all, for Indonesia. Happy National Children’s Day for all children in Indonesia. When children are protected, Indonesia will advance,” he remarked.

For the record, the peak event of the 2021 National Children’s Day, which was held online, adopted the theme of “Protected Children, Advanced Indonesia” and #ChildrenCareinPandemic.

According to Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga, the theme and tagline serve as a motivation that the pandemic does not diminish the commitment to celebrate National Children’s Day and celebrating it online does not lessen its values. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (DH/EP)