Now that the air quality of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has worsened to hazardous levels, the administrations of Delhi, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar on Sunday, 14 December, decided to move primary classes online, while introducing a hybrid mode of teaching for students in higher classes, according to official orders.
The decision follows an order by the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which announced on Saturday that it was implementing Stage IV measures with immediate effect across Delhi and NCR.
Are Delhi School Closed on Monday, 15 December?
Delhi Government's Directorate of Education on Saturday gave the following directions for schools in the national capital:
— Under the instructions issued, all schools have been asked to shift to hybrid classes from Monday for students up to Class IX and XI. Classes are to be conducted by combining both offline and online teaching wherever feasible, and schools are to continue with this arrangement until further notice.
— Students of classes X and XII have been given exemptions from this rule.
According to the circular dated 13 December, these instructions apply to all government, government-aided, and unaided recognised private schools that fall under the Directorate of Education, NDMC, MCD, and the Delhi Cantonment Board.
The Karyalay Zila Vidyalaya Nirikshak (BSA Office) of Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar released a similar order on Sunday, 14 December.
Schools closed or open in Noida, Ghaziabad, other GB Nagar on 15 December?
The administrations of Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar have also announced online classes for students up to Class V and hybrid classes for higher grades, as per released orders, reported PTI.
This means that classes up to Class V in Noida and Greater Noida will shift to online mode. Higher classes will follow either physical or online classes, except Classes X and XII, which will continue with in-person teaching. All other cities of GB Nagar will also follow the order.
Current status of Delhi and NCR's AQI
Air quality in Delhi and nearby areas worsened sharply on Saturday, with Rohini and Wazirpur recording an AQI of 500, while Shadipur reported the lowest reading in the national capital at 370, according to data from the Sameer app.
The situation remained grim on Sunday morning as well. By 2 pm, air quality in several parts of Delhi was still in the ‘severe’ category, with AQI levels crossing 400 in many areas.
Apart from Delhi, the air quality in adjoining Noida in the NCR also dropped, as the city recorded the worst AQI reading in the country at 455 on Saturday, falling in the severe+ category. It was followed by Greater Noida at 442, according to CPCB data.
CAQM directs suspension of all outdoor sports in Delhi-NCR
Meanwhile, in view of the deteriorating air quality, CAQM directed the Delhi and NCR state governments to immediately stop all outdoor physical sports activities in these areas as a precaution to protect children from serious health risks.
In a letter to the chief secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, the Commission discussed its concern that “some schools and institutions in Delhi-NCR were still holding outdoor sports activities” despite earlier orders issued in accordance with a Supreme Court order dated 19 November.
The Commission had, in a letter dated 19 November, called for the “postponement of physical sports competitions scheduled during November and December.”
CAQM has further directed authorities to closely monitor compliance on the ground and take appropriate action in cases of any violation.
