Preparing for the Implementation of Limited Face-to-Face Learning in Schools, What Are the Preparations?

Kapanlagi.com - The government's support for the continuity of national education never stops. The implementation of limited face-to-face learning (PTM) gradually carried out by schools in Indonesia is supported by the preparation through the School Operational Assistance (BOS) policy.

For example, this policy includes the flexibility of using BOS funds for limited PTM preparations. Through this policy, the distribution and disbursement mechanisms of BOS funds are improved. BOS funds can be directly sent to the school's account. As a result, the Minister of Education and Culture explained that the policy, which has been in place since last year, has been able to reduce the level of fund delays by around 32 percent or three weeks earlier than in 2019.

"This is very helpful for education unit heads in managing their respective schools, especially in the early stages of the pandemic. As many as 85.5 percent of school respondents and 96.1 percent of regional government respondents consider the direct disbursement of BOS to school accounts to be easy or very easy," said Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim in an online broadcast by the Ministry of Education and Culture on Thursday (25/2/2021).

BOS Funds 2021 Ready to be Allocated to Support PTMT

This year, the government has allocated Rp 52.5 trillion of BOS funds to 216,662 educational units at the elementary, junior high, senior high, and special needs education levels in Indonesia. Starting this year, the value of the school operational cost per region is also different, as it is calculated based on the construction cost index (IKK) and the student index (IPD) of each district/city.

The range of the school operational cost per student per year at the elementary level has increased by an average of 12.19 percent, with a cost ranging from Rp 900,000 (lowest) to Rp 1,960,000 (highest). Junior High School (SMP) has an average increase of 13.23 percent with a unit cost of Rp1,100,000 (lowest) to Rp2,480,000 (highest).

Meanwhile, for Senior High School (SMA), the average increase is 13.68 percent with a unit cost of Rp1,500,000 (lowest) to Rp3,470,000 (highest). For Vocational High School (SMK), the average increase is 13.61 percent with a unit cost of Rp1,600,000 (lowest) to Rp3,720,000 (highest). Meanwhile, for Special Needs School (SLB), the average increase is 13.18 percent with a unit cost of Rp3,500,000 (lowest) to Rp7,940,000 (highest).

Schools Welcome Limited Face-to-Face Learning

With the limited face-to-face learning policy supported by the School Operational Assistance (BOS), schools are welcoming it positively. This response was conveyed by the Head of SMPN 23 Bandar Lampung, Drs. Irwan Qalbi, M.Pd.

"The BOS fund allocation is very flexible and can be adjusted to the needs of each school. To accommodate limited face-to-face learning, we allocate this fund for health protocol needs and other supporting facilities," said Irwan Qalbi when contacted by the Kapanlagi.com team on Thursday (29/4).

Irwan Qalbi also revealed that the distribution of the BOS fund does not have any delays, so it does not disrupt the smoothness of the operational and technical processes in learning.

"Since last year, the BOS fund has been sent directly to the respective school's account, so the process is fast and relatively smooth without any obstacles like in previous years," added Irwan.

SMPN 23 Bandar Lampung Ready for Limited Face-to-Face Learning

Regarding the readiness of the school in implementing limited face-to-face learning, the Head of SMPN 23 Bandar Lampung affirmed that they are ready to welcome students back to limited face-to-face learning. This readiness is demonstrated from the implementation of health protocols to curriculum adjustments.

"With a total of 734 students, we limit the attendance for face-to-face learning to only 50 percent." For its implementation, we will adjust it, for example, grade 9 will attend the morning session, while grade 8 will attend the afternoon session, while grade 7 will rotate the next day and so on. Even in practice later, face-to-face learning activities can be only a third of our total number of students, considering that we must still prioritize health protocols," said the Head of SMPN 23 Bandar Lampung, Irwan Qalbi.

Meanwhile, the curriculum for face-to-face limited learning is adjusted to the needs and capacity, in order to be efficient and acceptable to students who learn online or attend school.

"As for the curriculum, we have adjusted it based on needs and capacity. When there is practical material later on, we will adjust it while still applying strict health protocols. As for physical education subjects, we prepare materials about sports that do not cause crowds," added Irwan Qalbi.

SMPN 23 Bandar Lampung hopes that this limited face-to-face learning process can run smoothly without obstacles. They also request support from the central government and parents to realize this program.

"Basically, we at SMPN 23 Bandar Lampung are ready for limited face-to-face learning, but we also need approval from the central government, local government, and parents. Therefore, we also conduct surveys among parents to find out their readiness for this limited face-to-face learning," concluded Irwan Qalbi.

(kpl/jef)