Govt Orders Schools in Volcanic Ash Zones to Adjust Classes as Volcanoes Erupt

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs has ordered Islamic schools and colleges in areas blanketed by volcanic ash to adjust their class schedules, including shifting to remote learning or suspending face-to-face classes altogether, as several volcanoes across the archipelago show heightened activity this week.

The directive covers institutions under the ministry's Islamic education arm, from kindergartens and madrasahs to Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) and Islamic universities, located in or near zones affected by ash fall. Indonesia, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is currently monitoring elevated activity at several volcanoes, including Anak Krakatau in Banten, Mount Ibu in North Maluku, Mount Semeru in East Java, and Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara's Lembata district.

The policy was formalized in Circular Letter No. 6 of 2026, issued in Jakarta on 7 September 2026 and signed by Director General of Islamic Education Suyitno. The circular gives affected schools flexibility to adapt their schedules, locations, and teaching methods according to local conditions rather than imposing a single nationwide rule.

He said that school start and end times can be changed, in-person lessons or religious study sessions can be shortened, activities can be relocated to safer locations, outdoor activities can be restricted, and classes can be temporarily switched to distance learning. "If conditions are deemed unsafe, in-person classes can be suspended altogether," Suyitno said in Jakarta on Monday.

Beyond schedule changes, the circular requires school administrators to ensure facilities are cleared of volcanic ash and to provide masks for staff and students, with N95, KN95, KF94, or FFP2 respirators recommended, or medical masks as a temporary alternative.

Suyitno added that anyone required to work or study outdoors should wear covered clothing and eye protection, and that anyone experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or red, irritated eyes should be referred to a community health clinic or hospital.

School leaders are also required to communicate any schedule changes clearly to students, parents or guardians, teachers, and staff, relying only on official sources of information to avoid causing panic. According to the circular, normal classroom activities may resume only once local authorities formally declare conditions safe.

The measures come amid a cluster of volcanic eruptions across Indonesia this week, a reminder of the routine hazards faced by communities living near the country's roughly 120 active volcanoes. "We pray that the volcanic eruptions subside soon and that conditions return to normal, so that people can resume their daily activities as usual," Suyitno said.