Delhi mandates hybrid courses for students up to Class 5 amid worsening air pollution as GRAP Stage III begins | Today’s news
The Directorate of Education in Delhi has ordered all government and private schools in the capital to conduct classes up to Class 5 in hybrid mode amid worsening air pollution.
Students will be able to attend classes either physically or online, depending on their convenience.
The directive follows the decision of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement Phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect as the air quality has deteriorated.
The regulation applies to government, government-aided and recognized private schools under the Directorate of Education, along with institutions run by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Cantonment Board.
School authorities have reportedly been instructed to immediately inform parents and guardians about hybrid learning.
Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs) across districts and zones have also been asked to visit schools in their respective jurisdictions to ensure that the guidelines are properly implemented.
Air quality in Delhi remains ‘very poor’ ahead of Diwali
The decision comes a day before Diwali, with Delhi’s air quality continuing to remain in the ‘very poor’ category amid rising pollution levels.
The national capital recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 364 at 9:05 am on Saturday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
PM2.5 particles were the dominant pollutant at 53 out of 59 air quality monitoring stations across the city, highlighting the extent of the pollution.
The CPCB classifies AQI levels between 301 and 400 as “very poor”, while values above 400 fall into the “severe” category. An AQI of 201-300 is classified as “poor”, 101-200 as “moderate”, 51-100 as “satisfactory” and 0-50 as “good”.
What does GRAP Stage III mean for Delhi-NCR?
In response to the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, the CAQM on Friday launched the III. the GRAP phase.
Restrictions within III. the GRAP stages include restrictions on dust-producing construction and demolition activities, restrictions on certain categories of vehicles, and measures to reduce emissions from industrial and other sources.
These measures aim to prevent further deterioration of air quality and reduce the population’s exposure to harmful pollutants.
As part of the restrictions, hybrid classes for students up to Class 5 have also been made mandatory in Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar, which includes Noida and Greater Noida. Other districts in the Capital Region may implement similar measures depending on local air quality conditions.
