As many as 10,429 schools in Jakarta have begun implementing 100-percent face-to-face learning (PTM) this year, the provincial government has reported.

“There are 10,429 schools, or around 97.2 percent, starting to conduct 100-percent PTM. This is in accordance with the decrees of the four ministers, as well as the provisions of the relevant agencies,” Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said at Jakarta City Hall on Monday.

The PTM policy with 100-percent capacity refers to a joint decree (SKB) of four ministers issued on December 21, 2021: Number 05/KB/2021, Number 1347 of 2021, Number HK.01.08/MENKES/6678/2021, and Number 443-5847 Year 2021 regarding Guidelines for the Implementation of Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Jakarta Education Service also issued derivative rules through the Decree (SK) of the Head of the Health Service Number 1363 of 2021.

The provision to carry out 100-percent PTM in schools is the first to be released after almost two years of online learning and limited PTM implementation in Jakarta due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Patria said.

The indicators that were used to decide on conducting 100-percent PTM in Jakarta included the vaccination coverage of 120 percent and the availability of isolation places and COVID-19 treatment rooms in hospitals, he informed.

However, Patria reminded the public to remain vigilant and implement the health protocols. The pandemic is not over and the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is emerging, he said.

Meanwhile, 100-percent PTM still requires students and teachers to be vaccinated and school areas to be disinfected regularly, he added.

“Those who go to school for PTM must be fully vaccinated, including teachers and school staff,” Patria emphasized.

He also advised parents to continuously supervise their children, especially after school hours, and ensure students go straight home to anticipate any transmission outside of school.

The previous positive cases of COVID-19 emerged during PTM implementation when students do not go home immediately after school, he informed.

“We also ask parents to monitor their children’s commute from home to school and vice versa. The safety of these students depends on us and the parents as well,” he added.

Source: Antara News