The Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud), Nadiem Makarim had released 4,504 students who would participate in the UGM PPM KKN activities online at the Senate Hall on Monday (29/6). The number of students will dedicate the online programs to 27 provinces, 77 districts and 263 villages throughout Indonesia from 29 June to 18 August.
The Minister of Education and Culture, through online communication, expressed appreciation for UGM’s innovation in conducting online Community Service Program activities. Because it is still in a pandemic atmosphere, in this period, it will carry out the online activity to protect the health and safety of students and the public from Covid-19 transmission. “I praise this innovation. UGM Community Service Program is one of our inspirations for the Merdeka Campus program,” he said.
Concerning the online program implementation, the Minister of Education and Culture also appreciated the various themes of the KKN program conducted by students around the handling of Covid. However, he also asked students to educate and teach elementary school students who have been learning difficulties due to limited access to technology. “I hope that next semester, there will be many more UGM students and other campuses will guide elementary school children to learn from home, to guide their learning activity,” he said.
On that occasion, Nadiem also said that the KKN activity period of approximately two months was not enough. The concept of the Merdeka Campus, which he planned later for two semesters of students will study off-campus both for KKN activities and internships and student exchanges. “Conducting programs by taking a quarter of undergraduate students’ time. We can conduct one year off-campus to conduct its dedication from the whole four years (lectures). They have to study outside campus, “he said.
UGM Chancellor, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M. Eng., D. Eng., Said that the Community Service Program is a learning process activity on campus in the form of community service to foster student empathy and concern for the real problems of society. However, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, he added, the students still cannot carry out online interaction with the community. “We do not want students to be late in their studies, especially KKN as a compulsory subject that must continue to be held and pay attention to the health and safety aspects of students and the community,” he said.
Central Java Governor and Chairperson of Kagama, Ganjar Pranowo, in his briefing address, conveyed that students should educate citizens who had been experiencing concerns about Covid. Moreover, vaccination activities at the posyandu to family planning injections no longer work for fear of contracting. “Students can educate citizens about Covid,” he said.
Besides Covid prevention education, he also asked students to help digitally collect data on community groups that had been affected by Covid. Because of a lot of data delivery of social assistance that is not on target because the data is not right.
Meanwhile, the Director of Community Service, Prof. Ir. Irfan Priyambada, M.Sc., Ph.D., said that the KKN PPM UGM this time was done online or online. Student service learning is placed in 178 locations, spread in 28 provinces, 77 districts and 263 villages. While at the area, the students will carry out various program activities themes including improving clean and healthy life behaviour, developing tourist villages, strengthening people’s economy and preparing the community for the New Normal era.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: Firsto
Translator: Natasa A