Chair of DPR Commission X: Face-to-Face Schooling Remains the Most Optimal

The Chair of DPR Commission X, Hetifah Sjaifudian, has welcomed the government’s step to cancel the proposal for students to learn from home amid the ongoing global crisis. Hetifah stated that face-to-face learning remains the most optimal approach.

“Regarding the proposal for learning from home, the government has decided not to proceed. In my view, this is the right step and one that we should appreciate. We learned a great deal from the pandemic era, that face-to-face learning remains the most optimal,” said Hetifah to reporters on Wednesday (25/3/2026).

Hetifah noted that in-person schooling at school can shape children’s character and social interactions. She pointed out that not all students have the same facilities or parental supervision when learning from home.

“It’s not just for academic achievement, but also for building character and social interactions among our children. Not all students have the same conditions if they have to learn from home, whether in terms of access, parental supervision, or learning environment,” she said.

This Golkar legislator assessed that there is no urgency for home learning when linked to energy savings, particularly in terms of fuel. She highlighted the zoning system, under which the distance from students’ homes to school is relatively short.

“If linked to energy issues, I see that the urgency is not strong enough to warrant a broad change in the learning system. Especially with the current zoning system, most students attend school relatively close to home,” said Hetifah.

“We hope that every significant education policy must be thoroughly studied, based on data, and consider its overall consequences, especially to avoid widening inequalities,” she added.

Hetifah emphasised the importance of the government preparing a more adaptive education system. She hoped that government policies would not be rushed.

“Looking ahead, what is more important is preparing our education system to be more adaptive and ready to face various situations, without rushing into overly drastic steps,” she said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno confirmed that the proposal for students to learn from home starting in April has been cancelled. Students will continue with face-to-face learning at school amid the global crisis.

Pratikno said this decision resulted from coordination with the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) and the Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag). Pratikno stated that the education sector must be optimised to prevent any learning loss amid the global crisis.