Delhi Govt Shifts Classes Up to Class 5 Online As AQI Worsens
Officials said the deteriorating air quality left little room for relaxation, prompting the government to reassess its earlier approach to school operations.
The Delhi government on Monday ordered mandatory online classes for students from nursery to Class 5 in view of rising air pollution levels across the capital. The latest decision comes amid the enforcement of the strictest anti-pollution measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Authorities said the move was aimed at minimising health risks to children, who are considered particularly vulnerable to prolonged exposure to hazardous air conditions.
GRAP Stage 4 Measures Intensified
The directive follows the imposition of stringent curbs under GRAP Stage 4, announced a day earlier to combat worsening pollution levels. These measures include severe restrictions on construction and industrial activities, curbs on vehicular movement, and advisories urging residents to limit outdoor exposure.
Officials said the deteriorating air quality left little room for relaxation, prompting the government to reassess its earlier approach to school operations.
Earlier on Saturday, the Delhi Directorate of Education (DDE) had permitted schools to operate in a hybrid mode, combining physical and online classes for certain grades. A circular issued on December 13 directed heads of all government, government-aided and recognised private schools under the Directorate of Education, NDMC, MCD and the Delhi Cantonment Board to conduct classes for students up to Class IX and Class XI in a hybrid format, wherever online teaching was feasible.
Under that arrangement, schools remained open, and participation in online classes was voluntary, with parents and guardians free to decide the mode of attendance for their children. The hybrid system was to continue until further orders.
However, with air quality slipping further into the hazardous category, the government has now withdrawn flexibility for younger children, making online classes mandatory for students from nursery to Class V, while older students may continue under the hybrid framework, subject to prevailing conditions.
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