PANDEMIC AND NATIONALISM AMONG PRIMARY STUDENTS

Since the Coronavirus plagued us in 2020, we have witnessed the loss of offline learning among our primary students. This problem affects the smoothness and quality of the  online learning process which provides limited interaction between students and teachers.

In Civic education, the main learning objective is focusd on how to keep the spirit of nationalism alive within our primary students. Other than limited interaction between teachers and students, online learning presents another setback for civic education. Most values promoted in civic education are supported and strengthened through outdoor class routines/programs like assemblies, flag ceremony, morning routines, etc. These teaching scenarios are prominently out of reach during online learning.

On the other hand, the fact that we live during the time that Soekarno called as ‘vivere pericoloso’(living dangerously) presents valuable teaching moments that should not be missed by civic education teachers. Never before, at least since the Indonesian Independence War have we felt the urgency to place the national interests over individual aspirations and work together against fighting the pandemic virus.

If managed effectively, these valuable teaching routines referred above could make civic lessons more meaningful. All the Civic education teachers need to do is to relate civic values like nationalism to the issues of pandemic like health protocols, vacciness, lockdown, etc. Of course it is not as easy as it sounds. Teachers needs to rework on their syllabus and lesson plans to incoporate these pandemic issues into their lessons.