Delhi Schools Reopen: Due to the worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reinstated Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday, as pollution levels reached the 'severe' category. As of Sunday morning, air quality in Delhi was recorded at 439 at 7 am, continuing the capital’s struggle with an ongoing pollution crisis.
The persistent high pollution levels have raised significant health concerns, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
Amid this, parents are facing uncertainty over the reopening of schools. Schools in Delhi and NCR had already been closed earlier this week due to the severe cold wave and dense fog, and were originally scheduled to reopen on January 16, Friday.
However, with the GRAP-4 restrictions now in place, local authorities may decide to suspend physical classes, even for higher year groups, and shift to online learning instead.
For most students, except those in Grades 10 and 12, classes are expected to transition to a 'hybrid mode' in Delhi and neighbouring districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar due to the ongoing restrictions.
Under the GRAP-4 guidelines, state governments in Delhi-NCR have been advised to consider emergency measures, including the closure of educational institutions and non-essential commercial activities, as well as restrictions on office operations.
In simpler terms, GRAP-4 requires schools to adopt hybrid learning for Classes up to V and recommends this approach for students up to Class XII.
An official statement from the Delhi and NCR authorities is still awaited.