Singkawang Education Office implements online learning due to haze
The Education and Culture Office of Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, has implemented online learning for students at all education levels starting Monday (24/8), following increasingly deteriorating air conditions due to haze. The policy applies to education units at the kindergarten/early childhood, primary, junior secondary, Community Learning Activity Centre (PKBM), and course institution levels in Singkawang City.
Head of the Singkawang Education and Culture Office, Asmadi, said that face-to-face learning has been temporarily suspended until air conditions are declared improved and safer for the school community. “Following up on the results of the regional disaster management coordination meeting on 22 August 2026 and the worsening air conditions due to smoke from forest fires, both in the Singkawang area and surrounding areas, which are very dangerous to the health of the school community, face-to-face learning from Monday (24/8) is suspended until air conditions improve,” Asmadi said in Singkawang on Sunday.
He said that learning during the face-to-face suspension period will continue to be carried out from home online without reducing the effective hours and learning materials that students must receive. Teachers are asked to ensure the online learning process runs optimally and to monitor student participation during learning activities. “Teachers ensure and optimise online learning by requiring students to activate their cameras during online learning,” he said.
Meanwhile, school principals, teachers, and all education staff continue to carry out their duties as usual at school. Asmadi asked the entire school community to increase vigilance against the impact of haze as well as the potential for fires in the school environment and its surroundings. He reminded schools to take fire prevention measures, including not burning rubbish carelessly and paying attention to the readiness of fire control facilities, especially for schools located in areas with peatland.
“The school community is also asked to increase vigilance and preparedness against the potential for fires in the school environment and its surroundings,” he said. In addition, the school community is asked to use masks optimally when having to carry out activities outside the home or outdoors as a protective measure against smoke exposure.
Asmadi said the online learning policy will be evaluated based on developments in air conditions. Face-to-face learning will resume after conditions are deemed improved and safe for students and the school community. The policy is expected to maintain the continuity of the education process while protecting the health of students and educators while haze conditions still cover Singkawang City.