News item: The Role of a Companion in Assisting Children Learning Online

   In this time of the pandemic, students around the world are required to learn from home online. Students and parents have different experiences with online learning. Most of the students complained about the online implementation, for various reasons. However, not a few parents are overwhelmed in assisting their children to learn from home, especially elementary school students who are still not independent enough to complete their assignments according to the instructions given by the teacher.

   Mrs. Istiworo Hardani, an entrepreneur, housewife, and the mother of Maureen [third-grade student at Pelita Insani Elementary School] said, "This online school takes too much attention. So, I have to sacrifice many other aspects to be able to assist [online learning] my daughter. This is very overwhelming for me, just too much." In this case, the parent or companion cannot fulfill their duties or work as on a regular day when children go to school to study. "Even if someone replaces her to assist her daughter, it doesn't help much." She implies.

  Fadilah Putri, a 12th grader and an older sister of Ratu [first-grade student at Al-Azhar Cilegon Elementary School] mentioned the obstacles in assisting her younger siblings to learn online, "Obstacles can be a bad network, and the child is also very little, it is difficult for her to learn on his own from zoom. The companion also has other jobs, sometimes my sister cannot be accompanied. Also sometimes they [the kids] don't even know what the teacher is saying." 

  On the other hand, Maureen, a third-grade student throws an opinion about online learning, "It is boring." She said. "I can't understand well, and I don't get the chance to meet my friends." 

  According to Mrs. Istiworo Hardani, even if online learning has negative impacts, it still has lots of positive sides, "I taught my daughter directly, so I can understand what my daughter's weakness is. I can pay more attention to it. Also because one child is taught by one person it should provide more intensive learning and my child can become better at learning." However, she hopes online learning will be over soon so she can focus on her work and monitor her daughter after she gets back from the actual school.