UI Rector at ANU’s Indonesia Project Conference, “Indonesia’s Education during Covid-19 Pandemic”
Nino Eka Putra ~ FEB UI Public Relations Officer
DEPOK – (10/9/2020) Universitas Indonesia’s Rector Professor Ari Kuncoro gave a welcoming remark at the Australian National University’s (ANU) Indonesia Project Conference webinar entitled “Economic Dimensions of Covid-19 in Indonesia: Responding to the Crisis” on Thursday (10/9/2020).
When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, all education institutions across the world took an immediate decision to prioritize the safety of students, lecturers and staff by switching to online mode of study. Since 6 April 2020, 170 countries and communities and more than 220 million students have felt the impacts of Covid-19.
University students, particularly those planning to pursue degrees overseas, have been affected because of campus quarantine, isolation and social distancing.
“Higher education institutions in Indonesia, particularly UI, took an immediate measure to respond to Covid-19 by switching classroom and campus activities that draw crowds to online mode. UI also canceled inauguration ceremonies and judicium days at its campus and holds virtual events instead,” said Ari.
In March 2020, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, in coordination with the Minister of Education and Culture, abolished national exams for elementary, junior and senior high school students. This is a first for Indonesia. The national exams were replaced by an assessment of student performance based on their grades and assignments, among other things.
In the same month, the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC) announced that the education reform could be completed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The MOEC issued a regulation through Circular Letter Number 36962/2020 stipulating that universities where Covid-19 cases are detected should continue their courses online. A MOEC survey has found that as of April 2020, 94.70% of universities had switched to online mode of course. The survey also found that 70% of students are ready for online learning using the Online Learning System (Sistem Pembelajaran Daring, SPADA).
The MOEC has also reached an agreement with cellular service providers to allow students to use the Smart Indonesia Card-College (Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah) to cover the Internet cost and to allow an extra semester for students facing the risk of dropping out.
“The Directorate of Higher Education gives universities the freedom to use different platforms for their online learning activities provided they are accessible to students. This is a challenge for Indonesia’s education because internet connectivity and technology are the basic requirements,” Ari said in conclusion. (hjtp)
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