Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Coordinator for Economic and Financial Affairs (Korekku), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic is risky. Even though some schools are located in the green zones, according to Ahmad many things must be prepared carefully, among others are the availability of the supporting infrastructure to implement the health protocol and the readiness of the human resources.

“I think reopening schools, even for those located in the green zones, is still risky. School-children are vulnerable,” Ahmad told the media in Nusantara III Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (17/6/2020) in response to the government’s plan to open and start the new academic year and teaching and learning activity (KBM) at schools.

The Gerindra Party politician explained that students are vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no guarantee that every student can be monitored and prevented from contracting the virus. Therefore, for the sake of safety he suggested that the school children continue their education through online learning modules.

“As many schools have limited budget to prepare infrastructure and other COVID-10 related matters, hence, in my opinion, learning activity at school must be postponed. Parents’ consent are needed, but when children are at school, they become the school’s responsibility. Let’s end speculation. I suggest to postpone reopening schools,” stressed the legislator form Banten III constituency.

Previously, the government issued a Joint Decree of Education and Culture Minister, Religious Affairs Minister, Health Minister, and Home Minister on the Guidelines for Organizing Learning in the New Academic Year during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim explained that the face-to-face learning process would be allowed phased reopening of schools located in the green zones starting in the new academic year in July. He also stated that the final decision to reopen schools remained on the hand of their respective regional government.

“For now, since the green zones are only 6 percent, only those areas are allowed to take decision to hold face-to-face learning,” said Nadiem when announcing the Decree online, Monday (15/6/2020). Government has also imposed several requirements for the schools in the green zones to resume face-to-face learning, one of which is the permission of parents.

Nadiem explained that in the initial stage, only junior and senior high schools would be allowed to reopen, while elementary schools would be able to follow suit two months after.