Delhi Pollution: Schools hold classes in hybrid mode due to worsening air quality

Schools across Delhi-NCR switched to a hybrid mode of conducting classes on Tuesday after the re-imposition of anti-pollution measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

As per the updated GRAP guidelines, students in grades VI-IX and XI across Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar must attend classes in a hybrid format (both physical and online) under Stage 4 restrictions. However, students in classes X and XII are required to attend in-person classes.

Pritika Gupta, principal of Sovereign School in Rohini, stated, “We are conducting online classes for students up to Class 5, while classes from Class 6 onwards will be held offline.”

She added, “As exams are approaching, students up to Class 5 will take their exams online, whereas those in higher classes will take them offline”.

RN Jindal, Chairperson of Gitarattan School in Rohini, said, “Today, all classes are being conducted offline. However, we are planning to shift classes up to Class 5 to online mode, while classes from Class 6 onwards will remain offline”.

With exams nearing, many schools have opted for offline classes for both junior and senior students.

Also Read: Suffering from toxic air, starved of learning: How school students are suffering in Delhi

Sudha Acharya, principal of ITL School in Dwarka, mentioned, “All classes in our school will be conducted offline as exams and pre-boards for Classes 10 and 12 are approaching”.

She further explained, “Many parents have requested us to hold all classes offline as students are lagging behind in various activities due to online classes, so we will proceed accordingly”.

The air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category on Tuesday morning, with an AQI reading of 427.

The Stage 4 restrictions came into effect shortly after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced measures under Stage 3 earlier in the day when Delhi’s AQI crossed the 350 threshold.

Earlier, all schools in the city had shifted to hybrid mode on November 25 due to Delhi pollution, before resuming in-person classes on December 5.

(With inputs from PTI)