PRESS CONFERENCE

Number: 064/Sipres/A6/III/2020

HumasUPNVJ- Jakarta, Kemendikbud --- Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) Nadiem Anwar Makarim appealed to learning activities both at schools and universities in areas affected by Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) to be carried out at home or residence. Educators and education staff also do not need to come to school or campus for a while. The learning process or the completion of administrative matters can continue to run by utilizing technology.

"Teachers and lecturers in areas affected by Covid-19 should not go to schools or campuses for the time being. I hear that many teaching staff are still carrying out their normal activities. Working, teaching or giving lectures can still be done from home by utilizing technology," said the Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem in Jakarta, Friday (20/3).

This is in line with the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (Menpanrb) Circular Letter Number 19 of 2020 concerning Adjustment of the Work System of the State Civil Apparatus in Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19 in Government Agencies. It is stated that ASN who are in government agencies can carry out their official duties by working at home/dwelling. The circular also explains that the Personnel Development Officer is responsible for providing provisions for the implementation and supervision of working from home/dwelling.

The Minister of Education and Culture received reports that around 166 local governments and 104 tertiary institutions, both public and private (as of March 19 2020), had suspended activities in the education unit. "If students study at home or where they live, educators and employees can also work from home," said the Minister of Education and Culture.

The Minister of Education and Culture invites all parties to work together to come up with solutions to problems that may arise as patterns change in education units. As stated previously through Circular Letter Number 36962/MPK.A/HK/2020, he asked Regional Governments and Higher Education Leaders to ensure that working from home does not affect performance appraisal measures or the incentive system that educators and education staff receive. "Physical presence is not a measure of performance. The most important thing is that learning continues and continues to happen. Only the method changes to online learning," he advised.

The Minister of Education and Culture also asked the Education Office or Higher Education Leaders to provide guidelines or technical procedures for implementing online learning with reference to the work from home policy set by the government. "This is the authority of the respective Education and Higher Education Offices. The details of the procedures and mechanisms can be further regulated. What are the rights and responsibilities of each. So that there is clarity and there is no confusion. The regional government needs to consistently provide directions regarding this," explained the Minister of Education and Culture.

He added that the guideline must also take into account local situations, conditions and challenges, so that it is hoped that it will not become an additional burden in its implementation. "It could be that the guidelines are not the same for between levels, between programs or between regions," said the Minister of Education and Culture.

Nadiem understands that sudden changes in learning patterns are not easy to do. In fact, for some it may be frightening. However, he encouraged all parties to respond wisely to the current situation. "I know this is not easy for all parties, but we have to try. The main goal is to ensure that the right to education continues, according to the recommendations of the President to work from home, study from home and worship at home," said the Minister of Education and Culture.

"You don't have to always use sophisticated equipment, but it can also be done using simple methods. The most important thing is communication," concluded the Minister of Education and Culture. (*)

Jakarta, 20 March 2020

Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations

Ministry of Education and Culture

Website: www.kemdikbud.go.id