Education Policy in the New Normal Life: Case Study in UISU, Indonesia

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has caused a tremendous impact on human life around the world so that almost no sector of human life is left out of the impact. In the higher education sector, the teaching learning process from face to face must be shifted to online one known as the e-learning system or Distance Learning Technology (DLT) by using electronic device assistance services. Regarding the implementation of education during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture through Circular No. 4/2020 states that Learning from Home (LFH) requires collaboration, interaction, and creativity between lecturers, students and parents as well as provides meaningful learning experiences without being burdened by the demands of curriculum achievement. Based on a survey by the Ministry of Education and Culture in May 2020, there were 3 (three) biggest obstacles to teaching staff during the pandemic, namely; ability to operate digital devices (67.11%), constraints on facilities and infrastructure (29.45%) and student internal factors (14.47%). To that end, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia is currently accelerating steps in the form of; 1) Strengthening the online learning system; 2) Increasing social awareness; and 3) Developing a health protocol awareness system. UISU as a higher institution in North Sumatra, Medan, Indonesia has organized an e-learning application called the Online Learning System (‘Sijarno’ in Indonesian) to ensure teaching learning activities run well. In the research sector, UISU is preparing studies related to COVID 19 in the fields of public health, medicine, engineering, the use of big data, handling post-pandemic economic problems, social resilience and distance learning.