Of the many unforeseen disruptions arising from the corona virus pandemic, none has been more devastating than the impact on the nation’s education system. Both educators and students alike were totally unprepared for the lockdown of schools and universities, with little or no emergency plans to deal with it. Initial efforts at online and remote teaching (via state television station TVRI) seemed haphazard and inadequate, especially in remote and impoverished areas of the country where the internet remains largely inaccessible and hand phones and television sets are beyond the reach of many families. According to current data from the Ministry of Education and Culture, that meant about 18% of the 40,779 elementary and middle schools. Further, about three percent lack electricity altogether.
Today, seven months on, as schools gear up to begin the new academic year, the situation seems to have improved somewhat. The government has allocated Rp. 72 trillion (about US$ 5.5 billion) to subsidize the purchase of laptops, hand phones, and internet subscriptions for both students teachers. The Ministry has also initiated a Visiting Teacher (Guru Kunjung) program as part of the transition towards the full re-opening of schools. Lessons will be conducted twice a week, for two hours. Most encouraging, the pandemic has been a wakeup call to implement much-needed changes in school curricula and associated programs. For example, educators are now reviewing the number of subjects students must take on, which is higher than in neighboring countries. The aim is to reduce the number to just the basics, at least during these difficult days. Whatever the changes, I feel it essential that reading remains a priority.
As a post-script, among the virtual programs honoring the late, beloved poet and teacher Sapardi Djoko Damono, was the launch, earlier this month, of mBoel, a collection of 80 never-before-seen poems he wrote as a tribute to his wife, Sonya, whose nickname is the book’s title. Some of the poems were recited at a recent virtual musical concert in his memory.
Stay safe and thank you for your continued support.
Yuli Ismartono
yismartono@lontar.org