No in-person classes upto Class 5 as experts flag risks for children

Taking note of the deterioration in air quality in the national capital, Delhi government on Monday suspended in-person classes for students from nursery to Class 5 until further notice.

- Aheli Das and Ridhima Gupta

A child on the way to school on Monday, when most stations recorded 'severe' AQI.

(SUNIL GHOSH/HT)

The order, issued by the Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE), comes as all other classes, except classes 10 and 12, in the city function in “hybrid mode” as per Saturday's order by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas on Saturday, which invoked measures under Stage 4 of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Delhi education minister Ashish Sood said, “This is a preventive step to protect young children from the adverse effects of air pollution. We are continuously monitoring the situation and will take further decisions in the best interest of students.”

Delhi School Parents Association president, Aprajita Gautam, said it was a step in the right direction. However, she added, the government should ensure its strict implementation regardless of which school. “The pollu-