STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL UNDER STRICT HEALTH PROTOCOLS by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 30/9 /2021 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has managed to overcome a drastic COVID-19 spike triggered by the Delta variant and culminating in July 2021 after imposing tough public activity restrictions dubbed as PPKM level 4 for nearly two months.

The national task force for COVID-19, on September 19, 2021, recorded 1,954 fresh confirmed cases and 117 deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 4,213,414 cases and the death toll to 141,826.

The figures showed a sharp decline compared to 56,757 fresh confirmed cases recorded on July 15, 2021, and daily deaths at 2,069 on July 29, as Indonesia's daily COVID-19 cases hit a record when the country faced the second COVID-19 wave that had overwhelmed the nation's medical facilities.

Following the significant drop in new cases, the government has decided to ease the semi-lockdown measures and lower the PPKM levels to 2 or 1 in several regions.

Another factor leading to the decision is that the country's vaccination rate is relatively high, even higher than the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The authorities have administered 90,361,002 first shots, accounting for 43.3 percent of the target of over 208 million, and 50,688,220 second shots, or 24.3 percent of September 29, 2021, afternoon.

The government rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination program on January 13, 2021, for healthcare workers, public service officers, elderly people, and teachers. Later, students aged 12 years old and above were also covered.

As nearly all teachers and many students have been vaccinated, a face-to-face learning process becomes possible, so several schools are allowed to open under strict health protocols.

"We hope to start (face-to-face learning activities) as soon as possible because we want the students to immediately get the knowledge back in school," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said recently while reviewing COVID-19 vaccinations at the State High School 3 in Wajo District, South Sulawesi.

INDONESIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM CHALLENGED TO PRODUCE QUALITY HR

By Fardah
Jakarta, 6/1/2020 (Antara) - The new-fangled cabinet lineup of President Joko Widodos (Jokowis) government sprang a few surprises, one of them being young and successful startup entrepreneur Nadiem Makarim entrusted with leading the Education and Culture Ministry.
Jokowi chose Makarim, 35, to help him prepare quality human resources, as his second-term administration is chiefly prioritizing the development of human resources, following infrastructure development in the first term.
Makarim, holding a Master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School, is the founder and former CEO of App-based Go-Jek ride startup. In December 2016, The Straits Times bestowed the Asians of the Year title on him along with six other people operating on the frontiers of technology's interface with business, collectively called "The Disruptors".
His capability in innovating technological breakthrough has impressed Jokowi, who believes that Indonesian human resources must be improved to stay abreast of the swift changes brought about by technological advancements. Jokowi suggested to usher in significant reform in the school curricula of the country to produce quality human resources.
Jokowi has called on Makarim to develop a technology-based application for the national education system to improve the quality of education evenly across the country that has some 17 thousand islands, as well as 514 districts and municipalities.