Smoke Fog Still Threatening, Palangka Raya Education Office Extends PJJ

A number of 6th grade students did a school exam at SD Negeri 11 Langkai Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, some time ago. (ANTARA/Makna Zaezar)

PALANGKA RAYA - Education Office (Disdik) of Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan Province (Kalteng), has extended its distance learning policy (PJJ) due to thick smog that still covers the local area. "distance learning or distance learning from home for kindergarten, PAUD, RA, SD, MI, SMP, MTs and equality education levels is extended until October 14, 2023," said Head of the Palangka Raya City Education Office, Jayani in Palangka Raya, Antara, Sunday, October 8. This policy was taken by the Palangka Raya City Education Office as an effort to protect students from the threat of air hazards in the local city which was categorized as very unhealthy or red zone which was even categorized as dangerous or black zone. This air category occurs because the Palangka Raya City area is still rampant by land fires and since some time ago the air conditions have been shrouded in thick smoke. Jayani said, during distance learning, education units continue to monitor the health and advancement of students' learning and as a request students not to carry out activities outside the home. Educators and education personnel are still present at school by paying attention to their health and continuing to monitor and provide distance learning guidelines for students. For elementary school level education units (SD) that carry out a Computer-Based National Assessment (ANBK) rehearsal, selected students continue to attend ANBK rehearsals in schools according to the predetermined schedule by continuing to wear masks and be picked up by parents. "The Palangka Raya City Education Office will continue to evaluate existing developments and coordinate with related parties so that further teaching and learning activity arrangements can be given," he said. As a result of the rampant land fires and the continuing thick air in the Palangka Raya City area, the local city government has declared an emergency response status for forest and land fires (karhutla). With this status determination, the Palangka Raya City Government through related agencies will meet the indicators that must be completed when the emergency response status of the disaster forest and land fires is declared. The impact of forest and land fires began to be felt by the community, such as the smell of pungent fog which made shortness of breath and sad eyes and the throat felt dry and quickly felt thirsty.

Meanwhile, on (8/10) the ISPUnet application or ispu.menlhk.go.id page issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry shows air quality in Palangka Raya City is categorized as red or very unhealthy. PM2.5 values are 178, PM10 is 94, CO is 98, HC is 8, NO2 is 248, O3 is 25 and SO2 is 128.