Teachers Ask Govt to Wait before Reopening Schools

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Teachers Union Federation (FSGI) wants the online-based home-schooling system extended until situations improved. The request comes amid the government's plan to reopen schools the implementation of "new normal" policies. 

"The FSGI believes that we should not be hasty and rethink the plan to reopen schools in July. We have to keep observing data and information related to Covid-19 containment efforts in every region," FSGI deputy secretary-general Satriwan Salim said in Jakarta, May 28.

To the federation, Satriwan said, the health of teachers and students is a priority, thus the reopening of schools must be done with excellent coordination, communication, and based on valid data. 

He said that the ideal option, for now, is to extend the remote learning method, provided that the school year starts at the regular time. "The new school year will still start in July," he said. 

The FSGI, he added, is taking notes from France, Finland, South Korea, and other nations that reported cases and transmission among teachers and students soon after schools reopened.

"This could very likely happen in Indonesia. We cannot have schools as new clusters of Covid-19," he remarked.

Another FSGI deputy SG, Fahriza Tanjung, said that if schools in "green zones" are reopened, the government and the Education Office must provide health support including hand sanitizing facilities, hand soaps, hand-washing stations, facemasks for all students and members of the faculty, PPEs in school clinics, and others.

ANTARA