Air quality panel orders Delhi, state govts to operate hybrid mode in schools, colleges
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday issued an order introducing a hybrid model for educational institutions for relaxing stringent measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Now, classes in schools and colleges across Delhi and NCR districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar, will be conducted both physically and online wherever feasible.
The Supreme Court had earlier in the day directed the commission to re-consider measures affecting educational institutions under GRAP.
Students, guardians to decide mode
The option to exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians.Rs — CAQM order
Apex court refuses to relax curbs
The court refused to relax the stringent anti-pollution GRAP-IV restrictions, cautioning that unless there is a consistent downward trend in AQI levels, it would not permit a rollback to GRAP-III or GRAP-II measures
“Clause 11 of GRAP Stage-III, Clause 5 of GRAP Stage-lV and Clause 8 of GRAP Stage-IV (to the extent it relates to colleges / educational institutions) are relaxed to the extent that state governments in the NCR and the GNCTD shall ensure that all classes upto 12th Standard in schools and those in colleges / educational institutions are conducted in a "hybrid" mode i.e., both in ‘physical’ and also in an ‘online’ mode, wherever online mode is feasible, in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar in the NCR. The option to exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians,” the order read.
The Court had highlighted critical issues arising from school closures, including the deprivation of mid-day meals for students and the lack of access to online education in many areas.
State governments in the NCR have been instructed to implement the hybrid model immediately and ensure its widespread communication.
“The NCR state governments may also consider conducting classes in a hybrid mode as in all other areas in NCR,” it added.
The Supreme Court on Monday said strict restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV to tackle the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital will not be relaxed.
However, the apex court had directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take decision on reopening of physical classes of school, colleges and educational institutes in the Delhi-NCR area. Addressing the urgency of a resolution by the CAQM, the Bench had stated, “The CAQM is expected to take a decision during the course of the day or latest by tomorrow morning so that it can be implemented from Wednesday.”
However, the court refused to relax the stringent anti-pollution GRAP-IV restrictions, cautioning that unless there is a consistent downward trend in AQI levels, it would not permit a rollback to GRAP-III or GRAP-II measures.
Last week, stringent actions were invoked after the air quality dipped to “severe” category.
A Bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih directed the commission to take a decision on clause five and eight of the GRAP-IV orders along with clause eleven of GRAP-III measures.
Clause five of GRAP-IV says the state government and the Delhi Government may take decision on discontinuing physical classes for classes VI-IX and class XI. The decision was taken by the government and classes were moved to online mode.
Clause eight deals with closure of schools, colleges and educational institutes as an emergency measure for which the governments have been asked to take a decision.
In the GRAP-III order too, state governments and the Delhi Government are to take a decision on moving classes to online mode for classes upto standard five.
The court addressed the issue of school attendance amid severe pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, observing that many students lack air purifiers at home, rendering conditions similar to those in schools. “There being no difference between children at home and those attending schools,” the court noted.
The court passed the order following arguments by senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing a group of parents, who submitted that lakhs of students relying on mid-day meals were being deprived of food due to school closures. She also pointed out that many students lacked air purifiers at home and raised concerns about the composition of the CAQM noting the absence of representatives from the education sector.
Opposing any relaxation of restrictions, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that air quality inside homes was comparatively better than outdoors.
