Lestari: Online Learning to Save Fuel Must Be Prepared Thoroughly

Jakarta (ANTARA) - MPR RI Deputy Chair Lestari Moerdijat stated that the option of online learning methods as one of the government’s efforts to save fuel oil (BBM) consumption must be prepared thoroughly. Lestari, as per a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, explained that thorough preparation is necessary to ensure the teaching and learning process still yields the expected results. “A number of comprehensive technical steps, synchronising policies between ministries and regional governments, must be taken to ensure that no child loses their right to education in the implementation of online learning policies,” she said. In addition, Lestari emphasised that the fuel-saving plan by changing the learning method must be fully understood by implementers in the field. The implementation of distance learning (PJJ) during the COVID-19 pandemic must serve as a lesson. At that time, she said, several challenges emerged, such as teachers being unprepared, parents burdened by online methods, and ultimately the quality of student learning declining. “Do not let the same mistakes be repeated, so it is important to prepare thoroughly,” said Lestari, who is also a member of DPR RI Commission X handling education affairs. Besides readiness of human resources, she said readiness of supporting facilities and infrastructure related to digital infrastructure must also be ensured. In this regard, she highlighted the steps taken by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in 2025, which has distributed interactive digital boards, laptops, and external hard drives to 288,865 educational units. According to her, teaching staff must be ensured to have the skills to operate and manage these devices. Besides that, the central and regional governments as well as the community are expected to build strong collaboration to ensure the implementation of PJJ runs well. “The continuity of quality teaching and learning processes for every child of the nation is very important to realise a competitive next generation in the future,” Lestari concluded. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno last week stated that the government is preparing an energy-saving strategy in the public sector as a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s directives. Adjusting online and offline learning methods according to the characteristics of the subject becomes one of the main cross-agency energy-saving strategies agreed by the government. Pratikno, in his statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (17/3), explained that to maintain educational quality, practical learning activities will still be directed to take place face-to-face.