P2G Deems Remote Learning Not a Solution for Energy Efficiency, Highlights Risks to Learning Quality
The government’s decision to cancel the planned remote learning (PJJ) in April 2026 has been deemed a correct step amid concerns over declining education quality.
The Teachers’ and Education Association (P2G) asserts that the PJJ policy was never a wise choice in responding to energy efficiency issues. P2G National Coordinator Satriwan Salim stated that energy efficiency efforts should not target crucial sectors like education and health.
“The choice of PJJ as an energy efficiency strategy is inappropriate and unwise. There are still many other options without touching the education sector,” Satriwan said when contacted by Media Indonesia on Wednesday (25/3).
He highlighted the timing of the academic ability test (TKA) that students will face soon, particularly for sixth-grade primary school and seventh-grade junior high school students. In such conditions, face-to-face learning is considered far more effective in supporting student readiness.
“Children are preparing to face the academic ability test, especially those taking the achievement pathway in PPDB or SPMB. If done online, both the learning process and the test, we fear the results will not be optimal,” he explained.
Besides academic readiness factors, Satriwan also reminded of the long-term impact of PJJ during the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered the phenomenon of learning loss.
He noted that online learning for more than a year at that time was unable to maintain education quality evenly.
“The impact is still felt to this day. Children’s basic abilities, especially in literacy, numeracy, and science, have declined,” he said.
Referring to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, which show a significant decline in Indonesian students’ achievements, even becoming the lowest throughout Indonesia’s participation.
According to him, this condition is inseparable from the practice of PJJ that has not been able to deliver quality learning. Therefore, he believes similar policies should not be repeated without mature system readiness.
“PJJ during the pandemic was unable to improve learning quality. Instead, it had a negative impact on students’ basic abilities,” he emphasised.
On the other hand, Satriwan assesses that the challenges for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemdikdasmen) are now even heavier. The government is demanded not only to recover the impact of learning loss but also to improve learning quality to be more adaptive to the times.
“Kemdikdasmen’s big agenda now is to improve literacy, numeracy, and science, while developing more relevant learning, including coding and artificial intelligence,” he said.
General Secretary of the Indonesian Teachers’ Union (PGRI) Executive Board, Dudung Abdul Qodir, appreciates the government’s decision to continue implementing face-to-face learning.
P2G Teacher Advocacy Division Chair, Iman Zanatul Haeri, stated that the government’s decision to maintain face-to-face schooling is correct. However, the activities must be of quality.
“In situations like this, safety is the top priority. Our obligation is to ensure the entire community is in a safe condition.”