SEMARANG, Indonesia (Reuters) – As schools struggle to keep academics committed to the pandemic, a kindergarten on Indonesia’s Java island brings students into the classroom using makeshift transparent booths and also sends visiting teachers home with social barriers.
Permata Hati Kindergarten, a private kindergarten with 135 pupils in the city of Semarang in Central Java province, is allowing six pupils per day to spend time in the classroom, giving children a chance to attend school once every two weeks.
Central Java had the fourth number of infections in Indonesia and at least 287 other people died alone in Semarang, according to government data.
Accompanied by their parents, young people in protective boxes made of plastic sheets that are disinfected after each elegant consultation for tips on how to advise their learning.
“The box is one of our commitments to prioritize fitness protocols,” said director Hindarwati, who uses a call like many Indonesians.
All students attending school must wear a mask, face protector, gloves and go through temperature controls.
Uncomfortable parents with the threat of sending their children to school can host learning with online sessions through video conferencing apps like Zoom.
“I’m not bored at all, because I can make Zoom calls with all my friends, I can also meet my teacher. I love it,” said Jihan Notharisa, 5.
Learning sessions include dancing, music and reading the Koran and kindergarten also sends teachers to schoolchildren at home, with portable screens for social distance.
“As parents, we do this activity so that our young people can meet their instructor in the user even if time is limited,” said Nita Dwi Nurhayati, a student’s mother.
Most schools in Indonesia have not yet resumed full-time physical classes in “green zone” spaces with fewer cases of coronavirus.
Overall, Indonesia reported 98,778 cases of COVID-19 and 4,781 deaths, the number of casualties in East Asia.
Additional reports through Heru Asprihanto; Written through Ed Davies; Editing through Simon Cameron-Moore
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