Disaster

North Sumatra Schools Go Online Oct 16–21 as Haze Worsens

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 17, 2026•3 min read

North Sumatra's Education Agency has ordered distance learning for all schools, from early childhood education to special-needs schools, on October 16–21, 2026, due to forest-fire haze. The policy, issued through a circular from the agency head, follows an instruction from Governor Bobby Nasution to protect students' and teachers' health.

Key Facts

North Sumatra's Education Agency has ordered distance learning for all schools, from early childhood to special-needs levels, on October 16–21, 2026.
The policy is set out in Circular No. 400.3/106/DISDIK/X/2026, signed by Education Agency head Alexander Sinulingga in Medan on Thursday (10/15/2026).
The move follows an instruction from North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution as an anticipatory measure against the impact of forest-fire haze.
Teachers and education staff will work from home; parents are asked to supervise their children and limit outdoor activities.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BBMKG) Region I in Medan recorded haze covering all of North Sumatra, with visibility dropping to 1–3 kilometers.
Forest-fire haze has reportedly spread across borders, reaching Singapore and Timor-Leste.

Distance Learning for All School Levels

North Sumatra's provincial Education Agency has ordered distance learning for all schools, from early childhood education (PAUD) to special-needs schools (SLB), on October 16–21, 2026. The policy was adopted to anticipate the impact of haze from forest and land fires on the health of students and education personnel.

The provision is set out in Circular Number 400.3/106/DISDIK/X/2026 on follow-up policies anticipating the impact of forest-fire haze and adjustments to learning activities. The circular was signed by North Sumatra Education Agency head Alexander Sinulingga in Medan on Thursday (10/15/2026).

During the distance-learning period, schools must run home-based learning using digital platforms or communication media designated by each school. Teachers are asked to deliver material proportionally without overloading students with excessive assignments.

Direct Instruction from Governor Bobby Nasution

The distance-learning policy follows an instruction from the North Sumatra governor on handling the haze impact across several regions. Bobby Nasution delivered the instruction while visiting SMA Negeri 1 Pulau Rakyat in Asahan Regency on Thursday (10/15/2026). He said several areas had already switched to home learning due to disruptive haze.

Bobby stressed the policy does not mean teaching and learning are suspended, but rather moved home to reduce students' exposure to smoke. Teachers and education personnel will work from home.

Parents or guardians are expected to accompany their children while studying at home, ensure they stay indoors during school hours, and limit outdoor activities. School principals are responsible for monitoring implementation and reporting to local education offices.

Haze Covers All of North Sumatra, Visibility 1–3 Km

Hendro Nugroho, head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BBMKG) Region I in Medan, confirmed that haze is now detected covering all of North Sumatra. Observations show a significant drop in visibility, ranging from 1 to 3 kilometers.

“We urge the public to reduce outdoor activities and wear masks,” Hendro stressed. Haze carried in from outside the region is worsened by air-mass movement bringing thick smoke particles northward.

Earlier in Central Kalimantan, Haji Asan Airport in Sampit was paralyzed for two weeks as afternoon visibility fell below 100 meters, far from the 2,000-meter safety threshold. The Kotawaringin Timur regency government extended its forest-fire emergency response status until October 30, 2026 — the fourth extension since the status was first set on July 30.

Haze Spreads to Singapore and Timor-Leste

The mid-October 2026 forest-fire disaster is in a state of emergency. Thick haze has not only crippled Jambi, Padang (West Sumatra), and North Sumatra, but has also spread across borders, reaching Singapore and Timor-Leste.

The widening cross-border impact forms the backdrop for President Prabowo Subianto's acceptance of foreign aid offers, with technical discussions now coordinated by BNPB together with the Foreign Ministry.