TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - Thousands of public and private junior high school (SMP) students in Surabaya city, East Java, passed the Covid-19 swab test today, November 25, 2020, as schools will be reopened next month.

The city administration's PR Head, Febriadhitya Prajatara, explained that based on the latest data of the Health Agency, at least 4,896 third grade students from 17 junior high schools in the city would join the test.

“The swab tests are for first to third-grade students totaling 12,000. But the tests that are held today and tomorrow are for 4,896 third grade students only,” said Febri on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

Febri added that face-to-face learning for third-grade students would begin in early December 2020. Thus, the tests are mandatory for teachers, school employees, and students.

The tests for first and second-grade students, meanwhile, would start next year. “So once the schools are reopened, all people would have been confirmed to be negative for Covid-19, yet the learning activities will be under strict health protocols,” she explained.

The plan to reopen schools and resume face-to-face learning activities are in line with the decision of the Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim last week. Nadiem stated that schools could reopen in January, or at the beginning of the even semester of the 2020/2021 academic year regardless of the region’s Covid-19 zone status.

Read: COVID-19: Epidemiologist Argues Jakarta Not Ready Yet to Reopen Schools

ANTARA