Air pollution is suffocating the national capital Delhi and in view of the deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government has issued several guidelines to schools on how to conduct classes.
On Monday evening, the Directorate of Education issued a circular revising the previous orders and directing that classes for students from Kindergarten to Class V be conducted exclusively in online mode.
“Due to the prevailing high AQI levels in Delhi, it has been decided that classes in physical modes for students from Nursery to Class V will be suspended till further orders for all Government, Government Aided and Private Private Unaided Recognized Schools in Delhi,” the order said.
Will classes continue as usual for higher grades?
Monday’s circular said that the existing order applies only to students up to Class V and that classes for higher classes will have to be held as per the earlier notification of the directorate of education dated December 13.
In this circular, the government has directed all schools to immediately start classes for children up to Class IX and Class XI in ‘hybrid’ mode, with both physical and online mode available for students.
Classes X and XII will continue with physical classes as usual.
“The option of pursuing online mode of education, if available, is vested in students and their guardians,” the circular said.
Delhi’s AQI drops sharply
The new order on Monday comes amid declining air quality index (AQI) in the state capital.
Delhi woke up to thick smog blanketing the city on Monday and AQI levels remained in the severe category, with the total AQI for the capital at 6 am at 457.
While this figure represented the scenario across the city, some air quality monitoring centers like Jahangirpuri, Rohini and Ashok Vihar recorded the highest possible AQI level of 500.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
