Nadiem Makarim Talks of Negative Impacts of Remote Learning

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said it had been too long for students to not experience face-to-face learning. Nadiem also explained the impact of remote learning for a long period.

"It has been one year, it has been too long for our children to not go to school. This presents real and permanent impacts," said Nadiem at a meeting with the Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Nadiem said that the first impact was the perception of parents who no longer see the function of schools in the teaching and learning process and felt useless to pay tuition fees. "That impact can be permanent because the children can be withdrawn from school," Nadiem said.

In addition, the learning achievements are decreasing. According to Nadiem, this condition did not only occurred in Indonesia but also all over the world. However, the gap difference in education access and quality between Indonesia and other countries is wider.

"And that permanent learning loss will continue to grow if we don't start face-to-face learning," Nadiem added.

The other impacts, Nadiem Makarim went on, were related to social affairs, such as domestic violence against children and child marriage. Remote learning also presented a greater burden on women who have to work from home while looking after their children.

The Education and Culture Ministry allowed local governments to hold limited face-to-face learning. As the Covid-19 vaccination for teachers was targeted to complete in June, the government wanted all schools to provide an offline learning option in the next academic year in July 2021.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI