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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Education Ministry Issues Emergency Learning Protocols Amid Forest Fires

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Indonesia's Ministry of Education is issuing emergency learning protocols due to widespread forest fires.
  • The protocols prioritize student safety and ensure learning continuity through remote methods.
  • The ministry is also distributing masks and health kits and establishing an emergency response post.
  • Several regions in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are already implementing distance learning.

Indonesia's Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is implementing emergency learning protocols in response to severe forest and land fires (Karhutla) affecting Kalimantan. The measures aim to ensure the safety of students and maintain educational continuity despite the hazardous haze.

Minister Abdul Mu’ti outlined three core principles: prioritizing the safety of the school community, guaranteeing students' right to education, and ensuring planned post-disaster recovery. "Kemendikdasmen is ready to move quickly with all relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that all students affected by Karhutla do not lose their right to learn and continue the learning process effectively, adaptively, and efficiently," Mu’ti stated.

Kemendikdasmen is ready to move quickly with all relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that all students affected by Karhutla do not lose their right to learn and continue the learning process effectively, adaptively, and efficiently

— Abdul Mu’tiMinister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti emphasized the ministry's commitment to student learning during the crisis.

Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Basic Education Data (Dapodik) show a significant impact from the fires. As of August 11, 2026, 3,524 educational institutions were conducting distance learning (PJJ) for 571,338 students across West Kalimantan, Pontianak City, Kubu Raya Regency, Kayong Utara Regency, Palangka Raya City, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, and Banjarbaru City.

In Banjarbaru City, distance learning is mandated from August 24 to August 28. Educators and staff will continue working at schools with adjusted schedules. The ministry will also activate an Emergency Education Post for Karhutla in five priority provinces, implement daily reporting on learning status, and distribute medical masks and health packages to affected schools. Kemendikdasmen will monitor the situation based on daily Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) readings until the end of September.

Distance learning hours will still adjust to normal learning hours starting at 07:30 WITA

— Abdul Mu’tiMu'ti clarified the schedule for distance learning in Banjarbaru City.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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