UNS — The Chairman of Academic Senate (SA) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Dr. Adi Sulistiyono, S.H., M.H., shared the strategy to implement limited face-to-face class sessions in the Webinar on Prevention Strategy for Covid-19 Cluster from Face-to-Face Class Session on Saturday (12/3/2022) as a part of UNS 46th Anniversary celebration.
Prof. Adi stated that limited face-to-face class session is urgent to be held considering the adverse social impact of the pandemic, including the learning loss that could pose greater risks in the long term. “The Covid-19 pandemic increases the risk of dropout because children are forced to work to help their families amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (There is) also, the risk of reduced learning outcomes due to the learning loss, and the risk of violence against children, external risk, and their mental health,” Prof. Adi stated.
According to the Ministry of Education, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), 3,391 elementary school students from seven districts/municipalities in four provinces demonstrated a significant learning loss that is equal to five to six months of learning experiences. The slowing down of the new cases are therefore welcomed with the new regulation that requires certain regions to hold a limited face-to-face meeting. “(However,) the regulation needs thorough observation and cautions in order to implement it according to plans without creating new clusters,” he added.
The regulation also aligns with Indonesia’s plan to reduce the pandemic level into endemic. Prof. Adi stated that the implementation of a limited face-to-face session could be successful when health protocols, 3T surveillance, vaccination, and hospital readiness improvement are put in place. The leaders, from local government, university, to teachers, also need to provide examples of implementing health protocols.
“Providing appropriate learning facilities and infrastructure, health protocol supporting facilities in each faculty and classroom, healthy lifestyle in the campus, supervision, and evaluation of health protocols in the canteens, building mask-using culture, and building self-awareness among the academic members on the potential of infections,” Prof. Adi added.
Mendikbudristek has also stated that the success of PTM depends largely on students’ commitments to obey the health protocols.
“Hopefully, the four Minister Decree on face-to-face meeting could allow UNS to hold conditional and gradual face-to-face learning,” Prof. Adi concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Lina Khoirun Nisa
Editor: Dwi Hastuti