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Schools in NCR Temporarily Shut as Air Quality Deteriorates
The concerning air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) has prompted authorities to take swift action to safeguard the health and well-being of school children. With air quality continuing to dwell in the ‘severe’ category across Delhi and its neighboring regions, the administrations of Gurugram and Faridabad have taken the prudent step of temporarily closing schools.
In Gurugram, classes from nursery to class five will remain suspended until further notice, ensuring that the youngest learners are shielded from rising pollution levels. Meanwhile, Faridabad’s Deputy Commissioner, Vikram Singh, has also directed the closure of schools for children in classes one to five until November 12. In both areas, online classes will be conducted to ensure that students continue their education during this temporary suspension of physical classes.
The directive from Faridabad’s administration states, “All pre-schools, pre-primary, and primary classes in physical form are ordered to be discontinued from November 7, 2023, until further orders in Faridabad district. This applies to both private and government schools.” The suspension of offline classes will be in effect until further notice, with decisions on resuming physical classes based on prevailing air quality conditions and government guidance.
Faridabad’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached the 500-mark, categorizing it as ‘severe +,’ posing a significant risk to citizens’ health.
In Gurugram, due to the poor air quality, government and private schools will be closed from November 7 until further notice for students from nursery to Class 5. The Gurugram Deputy Commissioner’s office has advised schools to transition to online classes for these students. They have encouraged school management, teachers, and staff to make the necessary arrangements for the seamless delivery of online education.
Meanwhile, in the National Capital, air quality remains in the ‘severe’ category for the fifth consecutive day, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board. According to data from the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality index in the National Capital has been recorded at 488, up from 410 just a day ago.
As authorities continue to monitor the air quality and its impact on public health, these measures are aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of the region’s school children during this challenging period of heightened air pollution.