On Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) ordered that schools in Delhi-NCR must conduct classes in a “Hybrid” mode for students up to 12th grade. This decision was made because many primary schools in Delhi and other parts of NCR do not have the resources for fully online classes.
The order followed the Supreme Court’s suggestion to restart physical classes, as many students lack the resources for online learning and miss out on meals provided at school. However, the court did not relax the anti-pollution restrictions, saying they would not ease until air quality improved.
With Delhi’s air quality levels at “severe,” schools have been holding online classes. To protect students if physical classes resume, schools are advising masks and limiting outdoor activities. Some schools, like Indraprastha School, have made masks mandatory and stopped outdoor events, including morning assemblies.
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However, parents, like Aprajita Gautam from the Delhi Parents’ Association, feel torn between the risks of pollution and the importance of in-person school activities.
On Monday, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 349, with several monitoring stations reporting “severe” levels of pollution.