New Delhi: Schools in the national capital reopened for Class 6 and above from Saturday, a day after approval was given by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the national capital region and adjoining areas. On Friday, the CAQM reviewed the restrictions imposed on the reopening of schools, colleges and educational institutions. “All the government-aided, unaided recognized, NDMC, MCDs and Delhi Cantonment Board Schools will reopen from December 18th for classes 6 onwards,” the Delhi government said in a statement issued right after the CAQM’s order on Friday.
For students up to Class 5, physical classes will resume from December 27th, taking into consideration the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the winter vacation schedule, the CAQM said. However, classes will be conducted in a hybrid model with both online and offline lectures. Teachers, parents and experts welcomed the above decision as they pointed out that students were deprived of interpersonal interactions for a long time.
Environment minister Gopal Rai announced on December 2nd that schools will be closed until further orders. His statement came as the Supreme Court pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led- Delhi government for resuming classes amid an alarming rise in the levels of air pollution in the Capital. “When the government implemented work from home for adults then why children are being forced to go to school?” the Supreme Court had asked the government on December 2nd. Meanwhile, the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 319, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India. A layer of fog has been formed in the Capital and temperature is expected to drop further.