Remote Learning Seen to Protect Children, DPR Requests Adjusted Implementation Patterns

The policy of Distance Learning (PJJ) is considered a viable step to protect the health of students under certain conditions. However, Muhamad Nur Purnamasidi, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), warned that the implementation of remote learning in the long term should not follow the same previous patterns, given the risks to the quality of education.

Purnamasidi believes that remote learning is a good policy when applied to respond to conditions that require students to reduce face-to-face learning activities. He maintains that children’s health must remain the primary consideration when determining learning patterns.

“In my opinion, it is a good step. However, we must not be reckless,” Nur stated in a written statement on Tuesday (8/9/2026).

He recalled the experience of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he believes had an impact on student learning achievements. Therefore, the implementation of remote learning needs to re-evaluate the balance between health protection and the continuity of the educational process.

“We have experienced this before during COVID-19, and it resulted in a decline in our student achievement levels,” he said.

He emphasised that if remote learning must be implemented over the long term, the learning patterns need to be adjusted. In his view, the remote learning model cannot continuously use the same approach as when it was first implemented during the pandemic.

“I believe remote learning is indeed a way for us to safeguard the health of our children. But in my view, even if it is for the long term, it needs to be changed,” he said.

He noted that evaluating remote learning patterns is essential so that health protection policies do not lead to new problems in the field of education. Adaptation is necessary to ensure that the learning process remains effective even if students do not fully participate in face-to-face learning.

“The remote learning pattern needs to be changed, not like the previous ones,” he concluded.

Consequently, he urged the government not to merely use remote learning as an option to address specific conditions, but also to ensure the readiness of learning models, teaching methods, and student achievement evaluations should the policy need to persist for an extended period.