Mon Nov 25 18:10:57 UTC 2024: ## Delhi-NCR Schools Shift to Hybrid Learning Amid Air Pollution

**New Delhi, November 25, 2024** – Following a Supreme Court request for review, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has mandated a hybrid learning model for schools and colleges in Delhi-NCR. The decision, announced Monday, requires all educational institutions up to the 12th standard to offer both in-person and online classes in response to the region’s persistent poor air quality.

The CAQM acknowledged that many primary schools lack the resources for fully online learning. While acknowledging the difficulties faced by students, particularly those in Classes 10 and 12 preparing for board exams, the commission emphasized the need to balance educational needs with air quality concerns. The hybrid model aims to provide flexibility, allowing students and guardians to choose the mode of learning best suited to their circumstances.

The Supreme Court, while urging the CAQM to consider restarting physical classes, reiterated that the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions, currently at Stage 4, would only be eased with sustained improvements in air quality index (AQI) levels. The restrictions on physical classes were recently implemented due to severe air pollution.

The Delhi Directorate of Education has already instructed all schools under its jurisdiction to implement the hybrid learning model immediately, informing parents of the change. The CAQM’s directive applies to Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar, with a suggestion that other NCR areas consider similar hybrid arrangements.

Read More