Digitalizing and Equalizing Education

Around 500,000 laptops, access points, projectors, connectors and speakers will be distributed to 29,387 schools this year, with the priority on schools that still lack ICT equipment.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Students of different grades wear masks and maintain physical distance as study together in a “pod” on Friday (28/8/2020), using the free wifi facility at the RW 05 community unit hall in West Kuningan, South Jakarta. The subdistrict offices provided free internet access to make it easier for the students to follow the online distance learning (PJJ) education policy during the Covid-19 health crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of education. Although many obstacles still lie ahead, network learning will continue to grow.

Online learning has significantly advanced the ecosystem for digital learning. Information and communication technology (ICT) devices and infrastructure have become a basic need of education today. The government is providing ICT device support for schools through the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry’s digitalization of education program, for which Rp 3.7 trillion has been budgeted (Kompas, 4/8/2021).