Minister urges remote learning in areas affected by Anak Krakatau eruption

Schools in areas affected by the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau have been urged to move classes online if conditions are unsafe. Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti said student and teacher safety must come first.

“Areas that are genuinely unsafe are strongly advised not to conduct face-to-face learning at school,” Mu’ti said during an online news conference on Sunday. He asked schools to follow instructions issued by the local governments in affected areas, saying his ministry could not independently designate every location directly affected by the eruption.

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Areas that are genuinely unsafe are strongly advised not to conduct face-to-face learning at school.

If local authorities still consider in-person classes possible, schools must apply strict precautions. Outdoor activities, including sports, should not take place in dangerous areas. Indoor lessons must also be managed carefully so volcanic ash does not enter classrooms.

The eruption began on Friday night and continued through Sunday, affecting several areas, particularly in Lampung, Bengkulu, Banten, West Java and Jakarta. The report said ash movement remained dynamic because of changing wind directions. One ash plume moved northeast to south, reaching parts of Jakarta, Banten and West Java, while another moved southwest to northwest across parts of Banten, Lampung and Bengkulu, as well as nearby waters and the Indian Ocean west of the three provinces.

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If the authorities consider it still possible, it must nevertheless be carried out with health protocols in place.