Threat of Poor Air Quality Forces Pekanbaru Students to Switch to Online Learning

Pekanbaru, MINA – All students in Pekanbaru City, Riau, engaged in remote or online learning on Monday due to poor air quality caused by smoke from forest and land fires.

The Pekanbaru City Education Office issued a circular regarding “Adjustments to Learning Activities Due to Declining Air Quality in Pekanbaru City,” addressed to the heads of public and private educational institutions at the early childhood (PAUD), elementary (SD), and junior high (SMP) levels in the city.

The circular—numbered 400.3/Disdik.Sekretaris.1/2796/2026 and dated August 23, 2026—was signed by the Head of the Education Office, Dr. H. Abdul Jamal, M.Pd. It was issued following an assessment of Pekanbaru’s air quality based on monitoring by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

On August 23, 2026, air quality in Pekanbaru fell into the “unhealthy” category.

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“Students are not required to attend school in person and are not permitted to participate in other school activities that necessitate physical presence,” the circular stated.

The letter also stipulated that educational institutions under the auspices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and other organizations in Pekanbaru must adjust their learning activities in accordance with this policy.

Furthermore, parents were urged to ensure that students remain indoors and refrain from outdoor activities to avoid exposure to the haze.

Decisions regarding learning arrangements for the following days will be made based on developments in Pekanbaru’s air quality. []

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)