New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday ordered the suspension of in-person classes for students from nursery to Class 5, making online classes compulsory as air quality in the national capital deteriorated further.
In a shift from its earlier approach, the government has withdrawn the option given to parents to choose between physical and virtual classes for younger students. Attendance in online classes will now be mandatory until further notice.
The Directorate of Education (DoE), in a circular issued today, said the decision was taken in view of persistently high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across Delhi.
“Considering the prevailing high AQI levels in Delhi, it has been decided that classes in physical mode for students from nursery to Class 5 are discontinued till further orders for all government, government-aided and unaided private recognised schools in Delhi,” the DoE said.
The order directs all school heads to ensure that teaching for these classes is conducted exclusively in online mode. Classes for students in higher grades will continue as per earlier instructions issued by the authorities.
Delhi has been grappling with severe air pollution in recent days, with hazardous smog blanketing large parts of the city and prompting a series of emergency measures aimed at reducing exposure, particularly among children.
