Unhealthy air forces remote learning while school meal distribution pauses across affected areas.

Worsening haze across the Riau Islands is now disrupting daily education and public programs, as authorities prioritize student health while monitoring rapidly changing air conditions.

Schools Move to Home Learning
The Riau Islands Provincial Government shifted SMA, SMK, and special-needs school students to learning from home starting September 15, 2026, after local environmental agency reports classified air quality in the province as unhealthy. Regional Secretary Misni said the policy would remain in place until conditions improve and are declared safe, with regular evaluations based on air-quality developments.

Schools and Parents Asked to Monitor Students
Schools were instructed to prepare structured assignments and learning materials suited to students’ circumstances while documenting attendance and learning activities. Teachers and principals were also asked to monitor students’ health and coordinate with parents. Families were advised to limit children’s outdoor activities, maintain healthy habits, ensure adequate water intake, and use masks when leaving home.

MBG Distribution Pauses With School Activities
The move to home learning has also affected the Free Nutritious Meals, or MBG, program. Batam MBG coordinator Defri Frenaldi said distribution follows school operating schedules and stops when school activities are suspended. He explained that meals cannot be distributed outside school when students are not attending classes.

Batam PM2.5 Recorded at Moderate Level
BMKG Hang Nadim Batam official Suratman said haze affecting Batam was largely influenced by smoke moving from Sumatra, including Jambi, with winds carrying it from south to north. At 6 a.m. on September 15, Batam’s PM2.5 concentration was recorded at 38.7 micrograms per cubic meter, categorized as moderate. He said hotspots in Lingga and Anambas were not considered the main source affecting Batam.

Kalimantan Smoke Could Also Reach Kepri
Separately, BMKG Tanjungpinang chief Ahmad Kosasih said smoke from ongoing forest and land fires in Kalimantan could still reach the Riau Islands in the coming days, particularly with southeasterly to southerly winds. He said low rainfall was limiting natural haze reduction, while thick smoke had already affected areas including Tanjungpinang and Bintan since September 14.

The haze has moved beyond an air-quality issue in the Riau Islands by directly affecting schooling and the delivery of the MBG program. For Indonesians in Kepri, authorities are prioritizing health by keeping students at home until conditions improve. For Singaporeans following regional haze developments, the measures show that nearby Kepri has already begun adjusting public activities in response to unhealthy air conditions.

Sources: Antara News (2026) , Liputan 6 (2026)

Keywords: Kepri Haze 2026, Riau Islands Schools, Batam Air Quality, MBG Kepri, Remote Learning Kepri, Sumatra Haze