Pollution Crisis: Delhi Schools Closure Extended Till Further Notice

Picture courtesy AFP

New Delhi: The Delhi government had decided at an emergency meeting earlier this month that schools will remain closed for a week from November 15 due to the alarming pollution situation in the nation’s capital and surrounding regions.

On Sunday, the Delhi School Education Department issued a release saying that all schools will be closed till further notice as air quality remains a worry.

“The environment department has directed to close all the schools with immediate effect till further orders of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas. Therefore, all government and private schools will remain closed till further orders,” Additional Director of Education Rita Sharma stated.

Online learning activities and examinations for board classes will continue as per earlier guidelines.

Delhi recorded 382 on the air quality index (AQI) during morning school hours on Sunday, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. It’s a slight improvement from the days following Diwali celebrations, but still some way away from acceptable standards.