Delhi schools shift to hybrid mode till Class 5 as air pollution spikes

Delhi government on Tuesday directed schools to conduct classes in hybrid mode up to Class 5 in view of spike in pollution levels in the city.

The move came after the Centre invoked anti-pollution measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

An order issued by the Directorate of Education said, “All heads of schools of government, government aided, unaided recognized private schools of DoE, NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board are directed to conduct classes in schools for children up to Class V in a hybrid mode i.e., both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) with immediate effect until further orders.”

The decision to invoke GRAP Stage 3 curbs was taken after Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) rose sharply from 362 on Monday to 425 on Tuesday morning due to calm winds, a stable atmosphere and unfavourable weather conditions that allowed pollutants to accumulate close to the surface.