The government of Malang city, East Java, has re-implemented face-to-face learning at 100-percent capacity in schools citing the successful containment of COVID-19 transmission in the city.
"Today, we have started to implement face-to-face learning at 100-percent capacity. Face-to-face learning is being implemented not because of the public activity restrictions (PPKM) level, but based on the joint decree of three ministers," Malang Mayor Sutiaji said here on Monday.
The city had earlier implemented face-to-face learning but had to halt it due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, he added.
The suspension of face-to-face learning in schools for approximately one month helped break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, he observed. For that reason, the Malang city government has decided to re-implement face-to-face learning as the virus transmission has been contained.
The mayor expressed optimism that face-to-face learning will run safely as long as the health protocols are implemented strictly. Aside from that, the majority of students have been fully vaccinated.
"It has been confirmed that our children have been vaccinated twice on average, and the children are also happy to be back to school," he remarked.
The Principal of Malang 8 State Junior High School, Anny Yulistyowati, said that the implementation of face-to-face learning at her school, which has a total of 758 students, will aid the teaching and learning process for both students and teachers.
"Face-to-face learning is easier for teachers and children because when there is any problem, students can directly ask the teacher," she explained.
For the implementation of face-to-face learning, the school has prepared a number of health protocol-related facilities and infrastructures, she informed. In addition, classroom cleaning will be carried out periodically.
"We have also prepared extra masks. Thus, if there are children who do not bring masks or have to change their masks, they can replace their masks immediately," she added.
Editor : Didik Kusbiantoro
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