Delhi primary schools to reopen from November 9, ban on open activities lifted: Gopal Rai

NEW DELHI: Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai today announced that the primary schools in the national capital will reopen on November 9 and the ban on open activities will also be lifted.

After a high-level meeting on Monday, the minister said, “Primary schools in Delhi were closed and open activities of classes senior to them were stopped. From November 9, primary schools will open, and the ban on open activities is being lifted.”

Gopal Rai said there has been a rapid improvement in the air pollution situation in Delhi and farm fires have also reduced. He further said the directions for work from home have also been amended and offices will be allowed to function at full capacity from today.

The Delhi government on November 4 announced that primary schools in the national capital will remain shut from Saturday till further orders while outdoor activities will be curtailed for senior classes amid worsening air quality in the city.

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After the Delhi school closure announcement, several schools in Delhi-NCR and parents welcomed the move to hold online classes for primary grades in view of rising pollution. While several others had opposed it, fearing another hit to studies already impacted by the COVID-19.

The air quality in the national capital was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Monday while the minimum temperature settled at 17 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average, the PTI reported. According to the Central Pollution Control Board data, the national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 352 at 9.10 am. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 96 per cent, the India Meteorological Department said.