What the Education Minister Says About Schools in Forest Fire Areas

The Indonesian Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, addressed the challenges faced by schools in Kalimantan due to forest fires. Mu'ti informed that the continuity of teaching and learning activities at affected schools will be managed by local governments, who have the authority to decide on the most suitable learning methods based on their region's conditions. However, Mu'ti emphasized that student safety and health should remain the top priority in any decision.

In cases where the haze from the forest fires poses a significant health risk, local governments can shift from traditional face-to-face learning to distance learning, a measure that the education minister believes is not unfamiliar in the Indonesian education system following the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of today, Mu'ti could not provide specific details about the condition of schools affected by the haze in Kalimantan. His ministry is awaiting updates from local governments about the current situation.

Furthermore, Mu'ti stressed the need for the central government's attention to be divided between addressing the forest fire crisis in Kalimantan and the earthquake disaster in East Nusa Tenggara. In NTT, his ministry has already deployed teams and initiated the setup of emergency learning tents to ensure that educational activities continue uninterrupted.

Despite the ongoing haze, the condition in several areas of South Kalimantan, particularly in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, and Kutai Kartanegara Regency, remained concerning as of Friday, August 21, 2026. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported significant fires in these regions, with burned areas reaching up to 25.29 hectares and 49.55 hectares, respectively.