Jakarta – The government plans to roll out a new education scheme that will simplify the curriculum and address existing hindrances to remote learning, which has been in place because of the COVID-19 crisis.
Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said the streamlined scheme could entail the reallocation of school operational aid (BOS) to internet packages for students and teachers.
"We are currently assessing what we can do to address problems related to the curriculum and the availability of internet packages. We have heard about these complaints and are responding to them," Nadiem said during a school inspection in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.
He went on to say that he was committed to improving the quality of internet connections in order to ensure the efficacy of online learning. A collaboration between state departments is crucial in this regard, he added.
In the meantime, the ministry has granted school administrations the freedom to reallocate their respective BOS to address the most urgent issues related to school activities, including internet packages for online learning.
"I realize that this is a very serious [aspect], because it determines the delivery of educational content to students," Nadiem said.
"Therefore, school principals are welcome to buy essential school supplies, such as data plans for teachers and students, as well as hand sanitizers."
At the time of writing, the ministry has only allowed the phased reopening of schools located in so-called "green zones" or areas regarded by the government as having a low risk of COVID-19 transmission. (rfa)