Delhi schools resume offline classes as CAQM lifts GRAP Stage-3 curbs

NEW DELHI: Offline classes resumed across Delhi on Thursday after the Commission for Air Quality Management lifted the Graded Response Action Plan’s Stage-3 restrictions, following an improvement in the air quality over the past three days. The curbs imposed earlier this month with the rising pollution levels in the city were revoked on Wednesday.

Schools had been asked to shift to a hybrid mode for classes up to 5 on November 11. In a circular, the Directorate of Education (DoE) said the guidelines for hybrid classes issued earlier were now withdrawn.

"All government, government-aided, unaided recognised private schools of the DoE, NDMC, MCD, and Delhi Cantonment Board are informed that the hybrid mode is hereby revoked. All classes are to be held in physical mode with immediate effect," it said.

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Heads of schools have been directed to inform students, staff, and parents about the change, as per the circular. Delhi's air quality remained in the "very poor" category with an AQI of 377 recorded at 4 pm on Thursday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The city has been experiencing poor air quality for the last 13 days. As per the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".