Thickening Haze Forces Schools in Pontianak to Return to Online Learning for Next Week
The haze caused by forest and land fires (karhutla) continuing to envelop Pontianak, West Kalimantan, has prompted the Pontianak City Government to once again extend its online learning policy.
Schools at the kindergarten, primary, and junior high levels will remain closed for in-person activities for the next week. This policy was implemented because air quality is deemed not to have improved, raising concerns regarding the health of children.
The Mayor of Pontianak, Edi Rusdi Kamtono, stated that teaching and learning activities will temporarily be conducted from home until weather and air quality conditions improve.
“Learning activities within the school environment are still suspended, and for now, learning is conducted online until the weather improves. This is because the haze remains thick as of today,” Edund said in Pontianak on Sunday, 30 August 2026.
A primary reason for the government extending online learning is the increasing number of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) cases in the region.
“We are seeing 300 ISPA cases per day in Pontianak, so we do not want this to continue and increase,” Edi added.
This policy of learning from home due to haze is not the first time it has been implemented. As of late August 2026, online learning has reportedly been in effect for approximately three weeks.
The extension of the policy also applies to senior high school students, in accordance with a letter from the West Kalimantan Provincial Education Office addressed to the principals of public and private SMA, SMK, and SLB schools across West Kalimantan, dated 29 August 2026.
For teachers, the situation has also impacted the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process.
Diana Cristy Nainggolan, a primary school teacher in Pontianak, admitted that learning activities have become limited since schools were closed for two weeks due to the forest fires.
“Learning activities have become very limited and less effective. We hope that Pontianak and its surrounding areas receive widespread rain soon, and that the local government can also strengthen forest fire management so that activities can return to normal,” she said.
Although in-person learning has been temporarily suspended, the public services of the Pontianak City Government continue to operate.
Edi ensured that public services within the Pontianak City Government environment remain active. However, employees experiencing health issues are permitted to work from home.