Delhi Implements Mandatory Online Classes for Nursery to Class 5 Students as Air Quality Reaches Severe Levels

Delhi government has mandated virtual learning for students from nursery to Class 5 due to hazardous air pollution levels in the capital city.

New Delhi:

The Delhi government has announced that students from nursery to Class 5 must switch to online education compulsorily as air pollution reaches dangerous levels across the city.

Previously, parents were given the option to choose between physical attendance and virtual learning for their children. However, this flexibility has now been removed amid worsening air quality.

The Directorate of Education issued a circular stating, "In view of the prevailing high AQI levels in Delhi, it has been decided that classes in physical mode for students of nursery to Class 5 are discontinued till further orders for all government, government aided and unaided private recognized schools of Delhi."

The directive further instructed school administrators to ensure proper implementation of online classes for the affected grades, while maintaining that "rest of the classes will continue to be conducted as per directions issued earlier."

Delhi's air quality index (AQI) registered in the 'severe' category on Monday with a reading of 427, following Sunday's alarming 461 - the second highest AQI recorded for December.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality was classified as 'severe' at 27 monitoring stations across Delhi on Monday, with 12 stations measuring in the 'very poor' range. Wazirpur recorded the most hazardous conditions with an AQI of 475.

The CPCB classifies air quality on a scale where 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'.