Pekanbaru Mayor Agung Nugroho has ordered distance learning (PJJ) for\npupils at early childhood education (PAUD), kindergarten, primary and\njunior secondary levels from Wednesday to Saturday, 16-19 September\n2026. The decision was taken after air quality in Pekanbaru deteriorated\nagain and was deemed no longer safe for children\u2019s health.<\/p>\n
Agung made the policy after chairing an evaluation meeting with the\nrelevant regional apparatus organisations, the head of the Sultan Syarif\nKasim II Meteorology Station in Pekanbaru, who is also the BMKG Riau\nCoordinator, Warjono, S.Si., M.Kom., and consultant pulmonologist\nDr.\u00a0dr. H. Surya Hajar Fitria Dana.<\/p>\n
\u201cStarting tomorrow until Saturday, all PAUD, kindergarten, primary\nand junior secondary schools will carry out distance learning. We took\nthis decision because the air condition is already very unhealthy,\nespecially for children,\u201d said Agung on Tuesday (15\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to data presented at the meeting, the BMKG air quality\nmonitoring figure at 14:00 WIB reached 220, while the Air Pollutant\nStandard Index (ISPU) was recorded at 243. This condition falls within\nthe very unhealthy category and poses a risk to health.<\/p>\n
Agung stressed that this policy does not mean learning is suspended.\nChildren will continue their lessons from home with parental supervision\nand materials prepared by their schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the teachers, prepare the lessons well and do not assign tasks\nthat burden children or parents. To parents, we ask you to accompany\nyour children while they undertake distance learning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Consultant pulmonologist Dr.\u00a0dr. H. Surya Hajar Fitria Dana judged\nthat the current air condition is already unhealthy for children.\nTherefore, the decision to temporarily halt face-to-face learning and\nmove activities to the home was the right step.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren should not be overly exposed to air in its current\ncondition. The government\u2019s step of temporarily not bringing children to\nschool and implementing distance learning is appropriate to protect\ntheir health,\u201d explained Surya Hajar.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Warjono, head of the Sultan Syarif Kasim II Meteorology\nStation in Pekanbaru, explained that smoke haze had reduced visibility\nin Pekanbaru to less than 1,000 metres.<\/p>\n
The BMKG also recorded 29 hotspots in Riau Province, detected in the\nIndragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir areas. However, based on wind\ndirection moving from the southeast and south towards the north, the\nhaze blanketing Pekanbaru is predominantly carried from areas to the\nsouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on the wind direction, the smoke entering Pekanbaru mostly\ncomes from the south, including from South Sumatra and Jambi,\u201d explained\nWarjono.<\/p>\n
He also explained that, based on current wind patterns, the smoke\ndetected in Singapore is estimated not to originate from Riau. The smoke\nis more likely carried from South Sumatra, Jambi, or Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Agung reminded the public that although there are currently no fire\npoints in Pekanbaru, people are still prohibited from carrying out open\nburning.<\/p>\n
Vulnerable groups, especially toddlers, children, the elderly, and\npeople with comorbidities, are also asked to reduce activities outside\nthe home. Members of the public who need masks can visit their nearest\ncommunity health centre (puskesmas).<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic health, especially children\u2019s, is our number one priority. We\nwill implement distance learning until Saturday. Going forward, air\nconditions will continue to be monitored and evaluated based on BMKG\ndata, the ISPU, and considerations from health workers,\u201d Agung\nconcluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pekanbaru-air-quality-deteriorates-mayor-extends-remote-learning-until-saturday-1789476899", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }