NEW DELHI: Physical classes have been suspended for all schools except for classes 10 and 12 in New Delhi until further orders as the air pollution in the national capital reached alarming levels.
The announcement came hours after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced strict pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective from 8 am on November 18.
The Directorate of Education has asked all heads of government and private schools to ensure that the offline classes for students up to class 9, and class 11 remain suspended until further orders.
“All the Heads of government, government aided and unaided private recognised schools of DoE, MCD, NDMC and DCB in Delhi are hereby directed to ensure that the physical classes for all students upto (sic) class nine and class eleven is (sic) to be discontinued from November 18 until further orders,” the DoE said in a circular.
In-person classes for students of class 10 and class 12 will continue as usual, it added.
“With the imposition of GRAP-4 from tmrw, physical classes shall be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12. All schools will hold online classes, until further orders,” Chief Minister Atishi posted on social media platform X.
AQI worsens
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened on November 17, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm.
According to the government’s order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric).
Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for electric vehicles and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.
Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the panel said.