Delhi Schools Shift To Hybrid Mode For Grades Up to 12th

Responding to the Supreme Court's call for a review of restrictions on physical classes due to worsening air pollution, the Centre's air quality panel, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), has directed educational institutions in Delhi-NCR to adopt a "hybrid" mode of learning for students up to Class 12.

Delhi's air quality, which typically worsens during the winter months from November to January, has triggered strict measures under the third and fourth stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These measures significantly disrupt the education system, particularly affecting students preparing for board and competitive exams.

The CAQM noted that primary schools in Delhi and NCR regions like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar often lack the infrastructure for fully online education. Students in Classes 10 and 12 face additional challenges as they require in-person lessons for practicals, tests, and tutorials essential for their examinations.

Under the new guidelines, schools and colleges are advised to conduct classes in a hybrid format wherever feasible, allowing a combination of physical and online attendance. The panel emphasized that the option for online learning should be left to the discretion of students and their guardians.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has instructed heads of schools, including those under the NDMC, MCD, and Delhi Cantonment Board, to immediately communicate this information to parents and guardians.

Earlier, the Supreme Court highlighted the adverse effects of prolonged school closures, including the loss of mid-day meals and limited access to online classes for many students. However, the court declined to relax GRAP Stage-4 restrictions, stressing that curbs could only be lifted if air quality showed a sustained improvement.

As of 7 am, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 382, classified as 'very poor,' according to the Central Pollution Control Board. A dense smog blanket continued to engulf the city, with AQI levels remaining hazardous for several consecutive days.

Despite the grim air quality, train services at major hubs like New Delhi Railway Station remain operational, but the city's residents continue to grapple with the severe pollution crisis.

This shift to hybrid education aims to balance learning needs with health and safety amid Delhi-NCR's ongoing air quality challenges.