Haryana Govt Orders Closure Of Primary Schools, Plans Online Classes Due To Rise In Air Pollution

The Haryana government also indicated that online classes for both government and private schools might be implemented soon.

Representational Image | Due to worsening air pollution, Haryana has ordered the temporary closure of schools up to Class 5 and is considering online classes.

Source : PTI

In response to worsening air pollution, the Haryana government directed on Saturday the temporary closure of all schools up to Class 5. A letter has been issued to all the District Deputy Commissioners on behalf of the Directorate of School Education in this regard, said Haryana Govt.

The government also indicated that online classes for both government and private schools might be implemented soon. This decision follows a similar announcement by Delhi CM Atishi on Thursday, where all primary schools in Delhi were shifted to online classes due to severe pollution levels.

In view of the rising pollution, the Haryana government orders to temporarily close schools up to Class 5. A letter has been written to all the District Deputy Commissioners on behalf of the Directorate of School Education in this regard: Haryana Govt pic.twitter.com/oSQUET7htZ

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2024

"Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions," Delhi CM Atishi, who also holds the education portfolio, said in a post on X.

Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions.

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 14, 2024

According to a report by news agency PTI, the Directorate of Education (DoE) in Delhi instructed heads of government, private, MCD, and NDMC schools to halt in-person classes for students up to Class 5.

Delhi Govt Enforces Stage III Of Graded Response Action Plan

Amid the pollution crisis, the Delhi government implemented several measures, including banning private BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles, restricting interstate non-electric-CNG buses, suspending certain construction activities, and staggering government office timings on Friday.

The restrictions were enforced under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan, or GRAP, as declared by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday.

On Friday morning, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 411, categorized as 'severe.' Although wind speeds later improved, bringing the 24-hour average AQI down to 396 by 4 pm, it remained in the 'very poor' category.