Humaniora roundup: Free digital books to weather modification operations
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is providing thousands of free digital books, ranging from picture stories to textbooks, accessible anytime via the Indonesian Book Information System (SIBI) platform. Head of the Book Centre at Kemendikdasmen, Supriyatno, stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that through SIBI, the public can find various types of books, from children’s picture story books to school textbooks for primary, junior high, and senior high school levels across all subjects. “From the outset, we have strived to provide the best efforts to facilitate the needs of students throughout Indonesia. The designers and writers are creators and authors from Indonesia, so they align with the educational needs in Indonesia,” said Supriyatno.
Kemendikdasmen has also prepared a reference for a number of activities that special education units (SLB) can carry out during the Friendly School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS) to accommodate the challenges faced by students with special needs. Head of the Study Team at the Centre for Character Strengthening, Kosasih Ali Abu Bakar, said that Friendly MPLS must be an initial activity for new students that provides a conscious, meaningful, and joyful learning experience, including for students with special needs. “By respecting the rights of every child and honouring school community members, the school becomes a safe and comfortable second home for all students,” said Kosasih.
The Social Security Administering Body for Health (BPJS Kesehatan) has launched the Rehab 3.0 innovation to make it easier for participants with contribution arrears to pay more flexibly. “We are launching an application that makes it easier for inactive participants who are in arrears to make payments in instalments. So, what used to be monthly can now be weekly, even daily. Once again, the essence of this is convenience for participants and easing their burden in paying arrears,” said BPJS Kesehatan President Director, Prihati Pujowaskito.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, together with the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, introduced the Integrated Assistance and Services for Civil Servant Families (Pelita ASN) programme to strengthen the resilience of civil servant families. “At this commemoration of National Family Day, we are also launching Pelita ASN. This involves integrated assistance and services for civil servants, especially those related to family resilience,” said Khofifah.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is preparing a weather modification operation (OMC) in early October to anticipate potential water shortages due to a hotter and drier dry season on Java Island. BMKG Deputy for Weather Modification, Tri Handoko Seto, stated that this weather modification operation is crucial to increase the potential for rainfall, thereby supplying water to reservoirs that support agriculture and the livelihoods of the community amidst the threat of drought. “Currently, the main reservoirs in Java, such as the Saguling, Cirata, and Jatiluhur reservoirs in the Citarum basin, and the Brantas basin in East Java, are still in a safe position. However, in September-October there is a possibility of a deficit, so in early October we will carry out modification operations in Java,” said Seto.