Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) workers spray disinfectant at SMA 68 Jakarta senior high school on March 3.(Photo: thejakartapost.com)
Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia will allow phased reopening of schools located inCOVID-19 low-risk areas, or 'green zones', starting in July.
A joint ministerialdecree by the education, religious affairs, home, andhealth ministers was announced on June 15 to regulate the school reopeningduring the pandemic.
Around 90 cities andregencies across Indonesia are considered 'green zones'. The number of studentsin those areas is roughly equivalent to 6 percent of all students in thecountry. This means the remaining 94 percent still have to continue online learning, said Education and Culture Minister NadiemMakarim at a press conference.
According to theministry’s official academic calendar, the beginning of the 2020-2021 schoolyear is slated for July 13.
However, parents wouldhave the final say on whether they would allow their children to go to schoolor not, Nadiem said.
During the initial stage, the ministry will onlyallow senior and junior high schools to reopen. Elementary schools will be ableto follow suit two months after, while kindergartens four months after.
For the reopening, schools are required to have clean toilets, hand-washing facilities,disinfectant, thermo guns and access to health facilities. They should alsoprovide areas where wearing a face mask is mandatory.
After the reopening, allstudents have to adhere to physical distancing measures and wear masks. Schoolsare required to limit the amount of students per classroom to 18, or roughly 50percent of the previous capacity.
Students, teachers orparents who are sick or have a comorbidity are advised not to go to school.Those who had traveled outside the 'green zone' should also self-quarantine for14 days before going to school, Nadiem said./.
