Singaraja– Application new normal amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it recently emerged to the public. This discourse has even spread to the field of education. If this happens, Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) academic, Prof. Dr. I Wayan Lasmawan, M.Pd believes that there is a need to establish and comply with standard operational health procedures, and collaborative work by all segments, especially in elementary schools. “The priority is security, health, safety and protection of students’ learning rights and academic activities while they are at school,” he said when he was a resource person in a national webinar organized by Primary School Teacher Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Dwijendra University, Denpasar, Friday (19/6/2020).

The academic who also serves as Deputy Rector for Planning, Administration, Finance, and Human Resources (HR) at Undiksha assesses that if the new normal is implemented, some problems could potentially arise in schools. Such as inadequate health facilities and normal facilities. This problem still surrounds many schools, including in Bali. Apart from that, the readiness of school human resources to be able and skilled in implementing the new normal in the education sector is another issue in itself. According to him, this will trigger new problems, in the form of failure to implement protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Another problem, psychologically, socially, and formally, is that most schools have not been able to provide “certainty of protection” for the safety and health of their students. This problem becomes more complex when combined with general problems at school in the form of difficulty limiting children from playing and socializing with each other while they are at school, as well as the growing independence of children who are difficult to stop from socializing because elementary school students are those who are growing well socially. and psychological. “These are various problems that have the potential to occur in schools when facing the implementation of the new normal,” he explained.

Even though there is the potential for various problems to arise, this does not mean that schools have to remain silent. But someone needs to take a stand. However, there needs to be mutual synergy between the central government, regional government, parents, and schools, including the community around the school, to take a stand and take action. In facing the new normal, it is necessary to implement a standard protocol for preventing the spread of COVID-19 for all school residents and parents of students so that it is possible to interact with the school environment. It is no less important to prepare supporting facilities. To maintain the quality of learning, there need to be adjustments to approaches, learning models, and strategies including teaching materials. “These matters relate to the security, safety, health, and protection of students. So that elementary school children as one of the nation’s next generations do not become victims, let alone be sacrificed. “In implementing it, support from all parties is needed,” concluded Lasmawan. (hms)