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Thu, 17 Feb 2022
JIMBARAN - "To be honest, yes, it is challenging," said Gede Inten, Principal of Widiatmika Vocational School, on Tuesday (15/2/2022).
Gede is concerned about the policy to stop face-to-face learning (PTM) again, which only lasted less than three months due to the surge in cases of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. In Bali, the government has imposed restrictions on the third level, which means all school activities must be done online, aka distance learning (PJJ). This PJJ is very impartial to vocational schools. Both teachers and students are facing many difficulties with this situation because PJJ means no practical activities.
"Meanwhile, in vocational schools, the main thing is not only knowledge but skills," said Gede.
However, Widiatmika School still put in the best efforts. Kindergarten to high school teachers does not mean just sitting idly by. They still come to school every day. They even work hand in hand to keep carrying out "Friday Cleaning" activities at school every week. The training is carried out solely to maintain the environment of the beloved school, even though it's still unknown when students will be able to return.
"It's part of our environment that we must always protect," said Gede.
Then, both students and teachers also carry out maximum efforts in terms of learning. Everybody knows this is not easy. Students try their best to absorb knowledge amidst the obstacles of online education. Meanwhile, teachers are working hard to deliver knowledge from a distance.
Vocational teachers are no exception. They have to make the best strategy to create the learning process that should be practiced directly in the kitchen or laboratory but the online situation.
"This is a tough fight. I convey to the teachers to do practical simulations from their respective homes as much as possible. For example, for cooking skills. Suppose a bowl of fried rice, they can simulate frying from home, even though it has to be a bit out of the standard, from a stove for the industry to a home stove, "explained Gede.
This hard struggle must be done because the Widiatmika Vocational School students, especially twelfth graders, face the Competency Test (UK) and Expertise Competency Test (UKK), the biggest stage of vocational school. Yes, the conditions are not ideal, but those tests can't be canceled. The students still have to be 100 percent ready to face both.
"In terms of knowledge, it can certainly be conveyed through PJJ, but not all skills can be conveyed online. But we also have to understand that we can't force it, so we try our best with the current situation," said Gede.
The government has taken the restrictions in the hope of saving all parties. Widiatmika Vocational School ensures that they will comply with all these provisions. The Widiatmika Vocational School has set an example by complying with the instructions for accelerating the Covid-19 vaccination for students, teachers, and other education personnel.
Gede also hopes the government will impose a priority scale before setting PTM and PJJ for any level. He thought that a dispensation should be applied to twelfth graders who are currently facing UK and UKK to continue learning and doing those practical skills at school. They need to be able to practice in the best condition.
"The twelfth graders have to complete their learning. The school is also responsible for this. We hope that the vocational school twelfth graders can do PTM. Moreover, there are only 22 students in class XII of Widiatmika Vocational School in terms of numbers. We also have enough tools for them to use. All of the students' parents also allow their children to join PTM," said Gede.
