No Need to Reopen Schools Hastily

Preparations to reopen schools in so-called “green zones” (Covid-19-safe regions) must be detailed and properly measured to ensure everyone in schools are protected from risk of infection.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A worker from the Central Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) disinfects a classroom at SD Negeri 04 Jakarta state elementary school in Sumur Batu, Jakarta, Monday (22/6/2020). Central Jakarta schools are being disinfected in preparation for the new academic year under the “new normal” Covid-19 protocol.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Schools must not make any rash decisions with regard to reopening at the start of the new school year in July despite being located in Covid-19 green zones. Preparations must be done properly to truly ensure the safety of everyone at school from Covid-19 infection risk.

A more detailed guideline is necessary to prepare schools before reopening. Furthermore, there must be a common perception and understanding about the requirements set out by the government to reopen schools.

The government, through a four minister joint decision letter, has announced that schools in Covid-19 green zones may reopen as long as they fulfill health protocols and obtain permission from local governments and students’ parents. However, across regions, there are different understandings on the guideline.

Also read : Looking at Reopening Schools During a Pandemic

For instance, there is no common understanding on the “green zone” label. National Covid-19 task force data as of 7 June 2020 show that 92 regencies and cities have been declared green zones. However, there are regional administrations that understand Covid-19 green zones as being on a district level.

In Central Java, for instance, the Tegal regency administration has held school activity simulations with strict health protocols in 40 schools in districts not declared Covid-19 red zones. If proven effective and approved by the Tegal regency Covid-19 task force, the simulation result will be adopted as a new normal guideline for schools at the start of the new school year on 13 July.

Referring to national Covid-19 task force data, no regency or city in Java, Madura, Bali and West Nusa Tenggara has been declared Covid-19 green zones. “Green zones are declared at the city or regency level, instead of district,” Education and Culture Ministry acting director general for early childhood, elementary and secondary education, Hamid Muhammad, said in Jakarta on Monday (22/6/2020).

Also read : Online Learning is Safer for Students and Teachers

To ensure school’s preparation in adhering to health protocols, the ministry has required school principals to fill out a preparation assessment form by 26 June at the latest. Three points are assessed in ensuring the preparedness of schools in green zones to reopen, namely the hygiene and the availability of sanitation facilities, the availability of health facilities and the mapping of vulnerable people at school.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A worker from the Central Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) disinfects a classroom at SD Negeri 04 Jakarta state elementary school in Sumur Batu, Jakarta, Monday (22/6/2020).

Health protocol

On the mapping of vulnerable people at schools, in reference to learning activities guideline for the new school year during a pandemic, everyone at school must be health and having low risk of Covid-19 infection. Those residing in yellow, orange and red zones or with history of contacts with persons with Covid-19 and are still undergoing a 14-day self-quarantine are not allowed to enter schools.

“We must ensure that all members of the school’s community are healthy and prepared to adopt new habits in line with strict health protocols,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) prevention deputy Lilik Kurniawan said in a virtual discussion themed “Safety from Covid-19 at Learning Institutions” initiated by Plan Indonesia on Monday.

Apart from hygiene infrastructure as stipulated in the learning organization guideline, three other aspects must be prepared by schools prior to reopening. Schools must prepare standard operational procedures based on health protocols which regulates interactions at school, among other things. Schools must disseminate information on the SOP to everyone to ensure their awareness and understanding on health protocols.

Also read : Four non-Negotiable Requirements to Reopen Schools

“Furthermore, schools must have a Covid-19 task force to ensure that those in schools fulfill all requirements, including temperature checks at school gates and monitoring adherence to health protocols,” Lilik said.

Education and Culture Ministry public and special education director Samto Prawiro said that schools reopening would not be permanent and would be adjusted to latest developments on Covid-19.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A worker from the Central Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) disinfects a classroom at SD Negeri 04 Jakarta state elementary school in Sumur Batu, Jakarta, Monday (22/6/2020).

Preparations for schools’ reopening

Regencies and cities declared as Covid-19 green zones in North Sumatra are preparing to reopen for the new school year, which starts on 13 July. Preparations include information dissemination to students and parents, simulations and fulfillment of health protocols. Samosir regency is among regions that will reopen schools.

Samosir regency education agency head Rikardo Hutajulu said that the agency would hold a two-month face-to-face learning trial on local middle schools. If no problems arise, face-to-face learning will also be implemented on elementary schools. “Among the requirements for holding face-to-face learning is permission from parents,” Rikardos said.

Different from Samosir, regions in Maluku will keep schools closed despite being declared as green zones. “We have not be informed on the operational technicalities,” Maluku Covid-19 task force spokesperson Melky Lohi said. Tual municipality and the regencies of Southeast Maluku, Tanimbar Islands, Aru Islands and South Buru are among these green zones.

Read also: Prioritize Safety of Everyone at School

In North Maluku, schools are also kept closed. “Only one out of 10 regencies and cities in North Maluku has been declared as green zone, namely Taliabu regency,” North Maluku Covid-19 task force spokesperson Mulyadi Tutupoho said.

Similar with Maluku and North Maluku, Lampung’s Mesuji regency and South Sumatra’s Pagar Alam city have yet to reopen schools despite their green-zone label. The local administrations are still studying various aspects, including preparation of class rooms and risks in holding face-to-face learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

(IKA/XTI/FRN/VIO/RAM/NSA)