Mon Nov 25 19:19:34 UTC 2024: ## NCR Schools and Colleges Shift to Hybrid Learning Amidst Air Pollution Concerns
**New Delhi, November 26, 2024** – Schools and colleges in the National Capital Region (NCR) will now operate under a hybrid learning model, offering both in-person and online classes, following a directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). This decision comes in response to a Supreme Court order that eased restrictions on educational institutions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat air pollution.
The Supreme Court, in its November 25th order, highlighted the detrimental effects of prolonged school closures on students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds who rely on mid-day meals and lack access to online learning resources or air purifiers at home.
The CAQM subsequently relaxed several clauses within the GRAP, allowing for hybrid learning in Delhi and neighboring districts including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar. The commission emphasized the importance of balancing environmental protection with the right to education, especially for students in classes 10 and 12 facing crucial board exams and competitive examinations requiring in-person attendance.
State governments are tasked with ensuring the smooth implementation of hybrid learning, giving students and parents the choice between physical and online classes. The CAQM also urged other NCR regions to adopt similar measures. This move aims to minimize educational disruptions during the winter months when air pollution levels traditionally spike.
First Piper 