TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government on Friday decided to reopen schools in COVID-19 “yellow zones” after the same move was done in areas that are considered “green zones.”

“Based on the official mapping as of August 2, there are 163 yellow zones that will enable schools to reopen with face-to-face learning,” said COVID-19 task force chairman Doni Monardo at Friday’s press conference.

However, Doni Monardo asserted that how school activities were implemented would heavily depend on the situation in the field as the final decision to reopen schools would be handed to local administrations. He added schools and parents were also among the decisive factors as to whether this plan was feasible.

“The regional officials are the ones who know each region’s situation,” said Doni.

He said that the decision to reopen schools was a compromise between the effectiveness of schooling and the students’ psychological health following a long homeschooling period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, said this decision was in line with President Jokowi’s instruction in the limited meeting on August 5, where the President asked for school activities to be “relaxed” amid the pandemic.

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EGI ADYATAMA