New Normal in an Islamic Boarding School in Tangerang
The An Nuqthah pesantren, or Islamic boarding school, in Tangerang, Banten, welcomed back its students on Thursday after an absence of four months.
The pesantren was forced to close its doors because of the coronavirus pandemic and many of its students, called santri, were sent home.
Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim announced on Monday that boarding schools should stay closed during the July and August school holiday.
Since there are no normal classes at An Nuqthah, the students spend their day exercising, making art and cleaning up their dorms and classes.
The pesantren had to apply for a permit from the Education and Culture Ministry and the local government to reopen the school.
The permit was granted since the school is located in a "green zone" with a low number of Covid-19 cases and because it has enough facilities to stick to the government's public health guidelines.
Students wear a mask everywhere they go at the pesantren and follow physical distancing guidelines, even when they pray at the mosque.
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