New Delhi: The dreaded days of COVID-19 seem to be returning to our national Capital. Not because the deadly virus has made a comeback, but due to a ‘killer’ of a different nature.
With Delhi reeling under dangerously high air pollution levels, the Rekha Gupta-helmed government directed schools to move from a hybrid system to fully online classes for students up to class V.
The government order comes a day after authorities announced strict anti-pollution curbs under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address worsening air quality index (AQI).
The Delhi Directorate of Education (DDE) had earlier allowed parents to choose between sending their children to school or opting for online classes. Now, with air quality deteriorating further, that option has been withdrawn.
“In view of the prevailing high AQI levels in Delhi, it has been decided that classes in physical mode for students of nursery to Class 5 are discontinued till further orders for all government, government aided and unaided private recognised schools of Delhi,” DDE said in a circular.
“All heads of schools are hereby directed to ensure classes in online mode for the students of these classes. However, rest of the classes will continue to be conducted as per directions issued earlier,” the directive added.
School principals have been asked to immediately inform parents and guardians about the change, and Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs) at zonal and district levels instructed to ensure smooth implementation of the order.
