Schools in Delhi resume today as the air quality gets better. Today, November 20, is the first day of classes for both government and private schools in Delhi, given the better air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The decision to reopen schools in Delhi was made by the Directorate of Education, which cited improvements in the Air Quality Index (AQI) and predictions from the IMD/IITM suggesting that there are no signs of an impending decline in Delhi’s AQI.
The circular states that starting on November 20, pupils in pre-school through standard 12 will resume their lessons.
According to PTI, there are four phases in the Center’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR for pollution control: Stage I is Poor (AQI 201-300), Stage II is Very Poor (AQI 301-400), Stage III is Severe (AQI 401-450), and Stage IV is Severe Plus (AQI above 450).
There are no outdoor sports programs in schools.
However, the memo announced that morning assemblies and outdoor athletics would be suspended the following week.
“This is in continuation of order issued on 18/11/2023 vide which winter break w.e.f 9/11/2023 to 18/11/2023 was declared due to Severe plus (AQI>450) air quality prevailing in Delhi at that time,” the circular stated.
The Directorate of Education has mandated that schools notify parents in advance when classes will resume. On November 8, schools in Delhi were closed and winter vacation was announced because of the city’s increasing pollution levels and growing health concerns.
