Delhi schools up to Class 5 to adopt hybrid mode amid pollution
The Directorate of Education has directed schools to offer online or in-person classes following the invocation of Stage III GRAP measures.
The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed all government, government-aided, and unaided recognised private schools to conduct classes up to Class 5 in hybrid mode, according to reports by Urban Acres, The New Indian Express and Hindustan Times.
The directive, issued on Friday, allows students to attend classes either in person or online. The order applies to schools under the Directorate of Education as well as those run by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Delhi Cantonment Board.
This decision follows an order from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement all actions under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. The measures were introduced as air pollution levels deteriorated in the region.
On Saturday, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 364 at 9 am, falling into the 'very poor' category. The New Indian Express reported that 18 of the 59 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded AQI levels in the 'severe' category on Saturday morning.
School heads have been instructed to inform parents and guardians about the hybrid arrangement immediately. Additionally, district and zonal Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs) have been tasked with visiting schools under their jurisdiction to ensure the directions are implemented smoothly.