Online Learning in the midst of pandemic, KPAI: many students stress until drop out of school

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 09:04 am

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) says many students experience psychological pressure to drop out of school due to various problems that arise during attending Distance Learning (PJJ) or online learning during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Most of them cannot access online learning.

“Many children cannot access PJJ online, so many of them do not move up to class until dropping out of school,” said KPAI Commissioner for Education Retno Listyarti in Jakarta, Thursday, July 23.

Retno said KPAI received a number of complaints which showed that teachers and schools were still pursuing curriculum achievements even in the midst of difficult conditions experienced by the community due to the impact of the pandemic.

In fact, she continued, Circular of the Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) No. 4 of 2020 stated that while studying online teachers should not pursue curriculum achievements due to limited time, facilities, learning media, and the environment which could become obstacles during the learning process.

However, the fact is that many teachers continue to pursue curriculum completion by giving their students continuous assignments while studying online.

So, according to Retno’s allegation, that with the “selfishness” of the school to complete the achievement of the curriculum, many students feel burdened. This caused them to experience psychological pressure from students, not going up to class, even dropping out of school.

“In fact, students are exhausted and depressed is a form of violence too,” said Retno.

She gave an example of a case of a child who had been hospitalized because of the severity of his assignment during PJJ. Then, there are also students who do not go up to class because they cannot take PJJ or take the exam online.

She gave an example of a case of a child who had been hospitalized because of the severity of his assignment during PJJ. Then, there are also students who do continue to the next grade level because they cannot take PJJ or take the exam online.

“The most severe are children with special needs who are barely served by education,” he added.

She considered that this learning should not burden the students especially if the problem is related to the device, internet quota, signal, and other technical problems.

“There are device damage factors, quota limitations, signal problems, and other technical obstacles. Schools should act wisely and not act as they wish,” Retno said.

KPAI also receives reports from parents complaining that there is no interaction between the teacher and students, where students are only given an assignment.

“If the presence that is used as a measure in PJJ online is an attitude value, then what about those who do not have tools and internet quotas so they cannot participate in PJJ online,” Retno expressed.