Distance Learning; Govt to Provide Internet Subsidy for Teachers, Students
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27 August 2020 15:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Education and Culture Ministry planned to provide internet quota or phone credit subsidies for teachers and students to support the implementation of distance learning (PJJ) amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In line with President Jokowi’s policy and to assist the PJJ implementation, the Ministry will give internet quota assistance for teachers and students,” said the Secretary of the Directorate General of Early Childhood Education (PAUD), Elementary and Middle School Education, Sutanto, in a webinar on the school operational assistance (BOS) in Jakarta on Thursday, August 27.
Sutanto explained that the assistance will be delivered directly to the cell phone numbers of the students and teachers. The subsidy was planned to be given for a period of four months, starting from September to December.
He outlined students will get 35 GB per month, teachers will receive 42 GB per month, while university students and lecturers will obtain 50 GB of internet quota per month.
“We ask schools to immediately input data of cell phone numbers of their students and teachers to the education data center (Dapodik). The government will provide internet quota, instead of cash,” Sutanto remarked.
The Education and Culture Ministry allocated a budget of Rp8.9 trillion for the program and increased the number of recipients of the professional allowance. Sutanto opined that the high cost to purchase internet quota was one of the obstacles in distance learning.
Read: Long-distance Learning Effects Are Negative, Permanent: Nadiem Makarim
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