Hybrid school rollout in city brings confusion and chaos

When a message landed in her school WhatsApp group on November Il, informing parents that classes for students up to Class 5 would now run in hybrid mode, Pinki Soni thought she had a plan.

- Gargi Shukla

With only one smartphone at home, she decided her younger child, a Class 2 student of Mayur Vihar’s Premchand Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, would study online, while her Class 5 daughter would go to school. But by the end of the day, no online link had arrived.

“A day passed after the notification and the link for online classes weren't shared on the group. When Iasked the teacher, he said classes will start once they get instructions from higher-ups, and shared a few simple assignments for students,” Soni said. The next morning, with the smog still hanging heavy outside, she sent both kids to school.

Her experience is not unusual. As the Delhi government's November Il circular directing schools to switch to hybrid mode took effect, the decision has left students, parents and teachers in the city shuttling between caution, confusion and compulsion.

Parents torn between health concerns and practical limits

Several parents told HT that the worsening air quality has pushed them towards preferring online classes, especially for younger children. But for many others, the logistics — digital devices, data, and the ability to supervise online learning — outweigh the health risk.