New Delhi: Hours after the Supreme Court asked for a review of the restrictions on physical classes due to alarming air pollution, the Centre’s air quality panel directed schools in Delhi-NCR on Monday to shift classes up to the 12th standard to a “hybrid” mode. Poor air quality, driven by unfavourable weather conditions, usually persists for long periods during winter, from November to January.
During this time, the national capital witnesses strict anti-pollution measures called Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which significantly disrupt the education system and affect learning quality.
In a statement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) acknowledged that most primary schools in Delhi and other National Capital Region (NCR) areas lack the resources to conduct classes entirely online.
It also noted that the students of Classes 10 and 12 are the hardest hit by the stage-4 restrictions under GRAP as they are required to attend physical classes for practical lessons, tests and extra tutorials needed for board and competitive examinations.
The panel directed school authorities in the NCR region (NCT of Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar) to ensure that all classes up to standard 12 as well as college and other educational institution classes are conducted in a "hybrid" mode — both physical and online — wherever feasible.
"The option to exercise an online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians," it said.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked the CAQM to consider to take a call on restarting physical classes in schools and colleges in the NCR, noting that students are being deprived of mid-day meals and lack the resources to attend virtual classes.
The top court, however, declined to ease the GRAP stage-4 anti-pollution restrictions, emphasising that the curbs could only be relaxed after consistent decrease in AQI levels.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has directed the heads of the government, government-aided, unaided, recognised and private schools of the DoE, NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board to conduct classes in the hybrid mode after the CAQM's order.
"All the heads of schools are hereby further directed to disseminate this information to the parents and guardians of the students immediately," it said.