Ruangguru, the largest technology company in Southeast Asia that focuses on education services, on Sunday (3/29) launched Tryout Akbar Sekolah Online Ruangguru, a free online tryout for all students across Indonesia. Tryout participants have the opportunity to win a total of hundreds of millions of rupiahs in prizes.
That way, despite a nationwide call for students to study from home in response to the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, they will still be able to test their understanding on any and all school subjects and get graded, without cost.
Millions of students from all over Indonesia, from Grade 1 to 12 between March 29 to April 12, 2020 can participate in two tryout programs offered: Final Exam (PAS) Tryouts and College Entrance Exam (UTBK) Tryouts. The PAS Tryouts include Social Sciences and Natural Sciences programs for grade 11 and 12. The UTBK Tryouts further offers tryouts for Social Studies and Science & Technology.
The tryout is also supported by Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), ASUS, Samsung, Nu Green Tea, Steadtler, and Tokopedia.
“We acknowledge that studying from home has disturbed students’ studying habits. Even so, we believe that students must continue to evaluate their academic performance so they can prepare themselves to achieve the best outcome possible, despite studying from home,” Ruangguru Chief Executive Officer Belva Devara said.
Previously, on March 16, Ruangguru already opened Sekolah Online Ruangguru Gratis, a free online school service in the Ruangguru application, also in response to COVID-19. More than one million users accessed the Ruangguru application on the day of the launch. The following day, Ruangguru became the #1 most popular and most downloaded application on Google Play Store, beating other popular applications such as WhatsApp and TikTok.
Ruangguru’s Free Online School Features Help Studying From Home
Ruangguru’s free online school allows students, especially those affected by changes in school policies, a distance-learning experience that mimics everyday school life through the Ruangguru mobile application. That way, students can continue studying and learning from the comfort of their home.
“The opening of Ruangguru’s free online school is a part of our effort to assure the health and safety of millions of families and students, and to ensure that access to education remains available for all students in Indonesia, anywhere and anytime,” Ruangguru Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Belva Devara said.
In Ruangguru’s free online school, beginning Monday, everyday from 8 a.m to 12 p.m Western Indonesia Time, students can tune in to 15 different live teaching channels, taught by Ruangguru’s Master Teachers, covering every subject in every level of schooling (from first to twelfth grade, including Natural Sciences and Social Sciences programs).
The following features further support students’ learning experiences in Ruangguru’s free online school:
- Subject-based and hourly schedules of live teaching sessions
- Live chat that allows students to ask questions and discuss with other students
- Set reminder, providing notifications before a live teaching session starts
In addition to features that support Ruangguru’s free online school, students have the opportunity to access other in-app features such as Ruangguru’s Question Bank and Online Tryout, which will help students assess comprehension on subjects they are studying for.
Ruangguru Engages Partnerships, Spearheading Better Accessibility
In an effort to broaden and escalate impact, Ruangguru partners several public and private institutions, such as the Regency Administrations Association (APKASI), Telkomsel, XL Axiata, Indosat, by.U, and Smartfren.
Ruangguru has become the trusted and strategic partner to local governments across Indonesia. On Tuesday, APKASI sent official letters to 416 regent, suggesting that students and families minimize interactions outside of their respective homes and leverage Ruangguru’s free online school.
“APKASI believes that online learning facilities are not for show. Instead, it is an effective way to help students learn and study at home under new schooling policies,” Head of APKASI Abdullah Azwar Anas, who is also the Banyuwangi Regent, said.
Ruangguru further partners five communication and internet service providers in tackling the lack of adequate internet infrastructure, in which respective providers launch free internet data packages for users to access Ruangguru.
1. Telkomsel
Offering up to 30GB of free internet data package to access Ruangguru for 30 days. Telkomsel’s prepaid and postpaid customers can activate the special offering through the MyTelkomsel application.
2. XL Axiata
Offering 2GB of daily free internet data package for its customers to access Ruangguru and will automatically update additional data each day. This special package is available from March 18 to March 30, 2020 and is valid for 24 hours.
3. Indosat
Offering up to 30GB of free internet data package to access Ruangguru for 30 days. Indosat’s prepaid and postpaid customers can activate the special offering through the myIM3 application or by calling *123*369#.
4. by.U
Offering up to 30GB of free internet data package to access Ruangguru for 30 days and can be activated on the by.U application. Once by.U’s prepaid and postpaid customers receive an in-app notification regarding the special Ruangguru Voucher, they can redeem the voucher on the “My Rewards” page.
5. Smartfren
Offering up to 30GB of free internet data package to access Ruangguru for 30 days since day of purchase, accounting 1 GB/day for 24 hours without rolling over, and can be activated on the MySmartfren application. In the application, click on the pop up button to claim the free internet package.
“Although we have provided various alternative learning services, we realize that at times, the lack of internet connection can become an obstacle. Therefore, we wholeheartedly welcome Telkomsel’s good intentions in participating and helping students across Indonesia access learning materials,” Belva said.
The opening of Ruanggu’s free online school came after the World Health Organization (WHO) established COVID-19 as a pandemic, and after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended distance learning activities as COVID-19 has disrupted school activities for 290 million students worldwide.
