Wildfire haze forces 1.4 million Indonesian students into remote learning

PUBLISHED Sep 2, 2026, 1:13 PM ET

Around 1.43 million Indonesian students in six provinces shifted to remote learning by September 2 because wildfire smoke caused hazardous air pollution, according to education ministry official Gogot Suharwoto. The affected schools, numbering 12,874, are in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. West Kalimantan accounts for about 1.1 million students. The remote-learning measure covers August 31 through September 4 and is subject to evaluation every three days. Officials use Indonesia’s Air Pollution Standard Index, with remote learning required when readings exceed 200. Forestry Ministry data cited by Reuters showed Southeast Pontianak recorded an index reading of 1,023 on September 2, while readings above 300 are classified as hazardous. Government data also showed about 200,000 hectares burned nationwide during January-July, including 73,310 hectares across the six priority provinces. Indonesia’s education ministry issued guidance on August 28 linking school operations to daily pollution conditions and local conditions.

By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News

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Left: Coverage emphasizes wildfire pollution, health risks, children, and environmental consequences. Center: Coverage emphasizes student numbers, pollution readings, official decisions, timelines, and verified data. Right: Evidence was insufficient for a distinct right-leaning framing in coverage.