Delhi schools ordered to operate in hybrid mode for up to Class 5 as pollution worsens

All the government and private schools in Delhi will conduct classes up to class 5 in hybrid mode, according to the order issued on Friday.

The Delhi Directorate of Education has ordered all government and private schools to conduct classes up to class 5 in hybrid mode amid worsening air quality in the national capital.

Delhi schools ordered to operate in hybrid mode for up to Class 5 as pollution worsens (Representative Image (Sakib Ali/HT))

All the government and private schools in Delhi will conduct classes up to class 5 in hybrid mode, according to the order issued on Friday.

The directive applies to all government, government-aided, and unaided recognised private schools under the Directorate of Education, and those run by the NDMC, MCD, and Delhi Cantonment Board.

The decision was taken in compliance with the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) order invoking all actions under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) with immediate effect across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The directorate has also asked school heads to inform parents and guardians about the arrangement immediately.

Furthermore, the deputy directors of education (DDEs) across districts and zones have been instructed to visit schools under their respective jurisdictions to ensure the smooth implementation of the directions.

Delhi AQI today

The CAQM on Friday invoked curbs under Stage 3 of the Grap in Delhi-NCR.

Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, a day before Diwali, as HT reported earlier.

The AQI at 9:05 am stood at 364, according to data from the CPCB.

At 53 of 59 air quality monitoring stations, PM 2.5 was the leading pollutant.

The CPCB classifies an AQI between 0 and 50 as “good”, 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 as “moderate”, 201 and 300 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and 401 and 500 as “severe”.