COVID-19 impacts on schools and learning in Indonesia

There is an urgent need to address the digital divide

in Indonesia more than ever before, a situation that

the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has only

exacerbated further. The pandemic has resulted in

the closure of schools across the country and forced

68 million students into distance learning

systems. 

According to estimates from the Ministry

of Education and Culture (MoEC), 97.6 per cent of

schools in Indonesia have implemented distance

learning since March 20209 . Subsequent surveys by

the MoEC and Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA)

found that a small minority of only 2.4 per cent of

teachers and principals did not implement ‘ learning

from home’. Reasons for this included the lack of

supporting devices and connectivity as many of

them were from isolated areas. The methods

employed by teachers under ‘ learning from home’

were diverse and include activities like teachers

conducting classes digitally, sending offline

learning packets to students, referencing textbooks

for lessons, recommending TV and radio broadcast

programs, and even conducting physical

home/community visits.

The transition to digital education has not been

smooth for all — many students in rural areas lack

internet connectivity and many low-income

students lack access to devices required for

existing ‘ home based learning’ and EdTech

solutions1 0. Children from lower income groups are

likely to fall behind their wealthier peers who have

better access to online learning infrastructure.

Children with disabilities are likely to be worst

affected as many have been unable to access

special services required for their personalised