New Delhi: In response to the rapidly deteriorating air quality in the national capital, the Delhi government has directed all schools to conduct classes up to Class IX and XI in hybrid mode until further orders.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) issued the directive following the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect.
As per the circular, government, government-aided, and unaided private schools under the DoE, NDMC, MCD, and the Delhi Cantonment Board have been instructed to offer both physical and online classes wherever feasible.
However, Classes 10 and 12 will continue to attend physical classes in schools, keeping in view board examination requirements.
Stage-IV GRAP restrictions include a complete ban on construction activities and entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi. The measures were enforced as the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the “severe” category, breaching the 400 mark in several parts of the city.
In addition, the Delhi government has asked all government and private offices to allow at least 50% of staff to work from home to reduce vehicular emissions. A similar order had been issued earlier under GRAP-3 but was later withdrawn after air quality temporarily improved.
Dense smog continued to engulf large parts of the capital, significantly reducing visibility and raising health concerns for residents.
