TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that the government is gradually reopening schools to conduct trial on face-to-face learning, locally knownn as PTM. The on-site learning is carried out with a strict supervision to reduce the potential for the spread of the coronavirus.

The minister said this policy poses many risks, but if schools are not reopened soon, it will pose greater risks for the future generations. "There are challenges here and there, but we are more afraid and terrified if the next generation will be uneducated," said Luhut in a statement, Monday, September 27.

He explained, as of September 26, 2021, the national confirmed cases of Covid-19 fell by 96.6 percent from the peak on July 15, this year. Meanwhile, active cases as of Monday, were also lower than the figure on September 2, last year, which was 42,769 and 43,059 respectively. National active cases have also decreased by 92.6 percent from the peak on July 24, 2021.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Indonesia must be ready to face a change from a pandemic to an endemic. Therefore, various activities will be carried out normally with proper health protocols. He explained that the education sector is currently one of the priorities that must be opened due to its long-term effect if it is postponed.

Minister of Education Nadiem Makarim added that the World Bank data showed that various research institutions found a learning loss if schools at the elementary and early childhood education levels did not start immediately. "The impact that occurs can be permanent," he said.

Read: Learning Loss a Major Concern; Govt Insists on Reopening Schools

Francisca Christy Rosana | Maudey K. Setyakusuma