The move comes as the air quality in Delhi remains in the 'severe' category for the second consecutive day, prompting the central pollution monitor, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), to enforce Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Offline Classes Suspended for Primary School Students
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has directed all government, private, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) schools to halt physical classes for students up to Class 5. In an official statement, the DoE stated, “All heads of government, aided, and unaided private recognized schools of the DoE, MCD, and NDMC in Delhi are hereby instructed to discontinue offline classes for children up to Class 5.”
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School principals have been tasked with ensuring that online classes are conducted for these students until further directions are issued. This measure is part of broader efforts to mitigate health risks posed by poor air quality, which has reached dangerous levels.
Air Quality Index (AQI) and GRAP Stages
The CAQM’s Stage III restrictions will take effect on Friday, imposing stringent anti-pollution measures. The GRAP system categorizes air quality in Delhi-NCR into four stages:
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Stage I (AQI 201-300): 'Poor'
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Stage II (AQI 301-400): 'Very Poor'
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Stage III (AQI 401-450): 'Severe'
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Stage IV (AQI >450): 'Severe Plus'
The current AQI level has necessitated the shift to Stage III, under which educational institutions must transition younger students to remote learning to protect their health.
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