The prolonged cold spell in various regions of India has led authorities to take action to protect schoolchildren. In Patna, Bihar, all schools up to Class 8 have been closed until January 11 due to a minimum temperature of 10°C. Schools for higher classes will remain open with revised timings from 9am to 3:30pm. Similarly, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, schools up to Class 8 have been ordered to close until January 11, while schools for higher grades will open after 9am. In Jharkhand, the state government has directed all schools from kindergarten to Class 8 to remain closed from January 7 to 13 due to the cold wave. In Lucknow, schools up to Class 8 have been closed until January 11, while online classes for higher grades will be conducted from January 4 to 11, or they will operate between 10am and 3pm if not possible.
https://www.ndtv.com/education/schools-shut-in-these-states-and-cities-as-severe-cold-wave-intensifies-7406710#pfrom=home-ndtv_mainnavigationThe public health crisis in Delhi has led to prolonged school closures, with nearly two million students missing out on education for over two weeks due to hazardous air quality. The city's government allowed schools to reopen last week, and many have since resumed in-person classes. Students like 13-year-old Aniksha are relieved to be back in class, citing the benefits of interacting with teachers and peers as a key part of their learning experience.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40335764/relief-as-delhi-schools-reopen-but-smog-crisis-persistsThe public health crisis in Delhi has led to weeks-long school closures, affecting nearly two million students, as the city's air quality remains hazardous due to smog. The crisis is particularly challenging for low-income families who rely on their children's income from helping with household chores or working outside. Language teacher Vandana Pandey notes that online learning is ineffective for many students who lack smartphones or struggle with network connectivity. The school closures, aimed at protecting vulnerable children from the toxic air, have failed to make a noticeable improvement in air quality, and experts attribute 1.67 million premature deaths in India to air pollution in 2019.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40335689/relief-as-delhi-schools-reopen-but-smog-crisis-persistsThe Delhi government has given students and their guardians the option to choose between online or hybrid education in schools and colleges within the National Capital Region (NCR). This decision was made after the Supreme Court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider restarting physical classes, citing concerns that students were missing out on mid-day meals and struggling with virtual learning. The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed school heads to conduct classes in a hybrid mode, allowing students to choose between online or offline education.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/caqm-directs-schools-in-delhi-ncr-to-adopt-hybrid-mode-for-classes-up-to-12th-standard/article68911757.eceThe Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has relaxed certain restrictions on schools and colleges in Delhi and surrounding districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar, to allow hybrid learning. This decision aims to balance the need for students to attend classes with environmental health concerns due to poor air quality during the winter months. Specifically, Clause 11 of GRAP Stage-III and Clauses 5 and 8 of GRAP Stage-IV have been relaxed, permitting schools and colleges to adopt a hybrid learning model that allows students to choose between online or in-person education. This decision is particularly aimed at supporting students in Classes 10 and 12 who require physical attendance for practicals and extra tutorials due to upcoming board and competitive exams.
https://www.ndtv.com/education/schools-colleges-in-delhi-ncr-to-operate-in-hybrid-mode-amid-grap-relaxations-after-supreme-court-order-7104891#pfrom=home-ndtv_mainnavigationThe Delhi government has directed all schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) to conduct classes in a "hybrid mode" - both online and offline - with immediate effect. This decision comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced relaxations under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to mitigate educational disruptions caused by poor air quality. The move is a response to the Supreme Court's observations on Monday, which noted that many students lacked mid-day meals and infrastructure to attend online classes.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-schools-asked-to-move-to-hybrid-mode-after-supreme-court-observations-7105038#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscrollThe Punjab region in Pakistan is experiencing a decline in smog levels, allowing authorities in Lahore and Multan to reopen schools after a week-long closure due to hazardous pollution levels. However, students will still be required to wear face masks and outdoor sports at educational institutes remain suspended. The prolonged exposure to toxic air has severe health consequences, including strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A study by the University of Chicago found that high levels of pollution in Lahore have reduced life expectancy by 7.5 years. Experts believe that modernizing car fleets, reviewing farming methods, and transitioning to renewable energies are key solutions to address the smog issue affecting millions of people in Pakistan and India each year.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1254776-lahore-remains-pakistans-most-polluted-city-despite-drop-in-aqiThe Supreme Court has urged Delhi authorities to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges, citing concerns that many students lack access to mid-day meals and infrastructure to attend online classes. The court noted that a large number of students do not have air purifiers at home, making it difficult for them to learn effectively from home. However, the court refused to relax anti-pollution restrictions in Delhi-NCR, but directed state governments to use funds collected as labour cess to support daily wagers and laborers affected by the restrictions.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/sc-urges-delhi-to-consider-restarting-physical-classes-in-schools-1841144The Haryana government has suspended all physical classes for students up to Class 12 in Gurugram's government and private schools until November 25, 2024, due to poor air quality. The decision was made by the Directorate of Secondary Education, Haryana, with the aim of prioritizing children's health and safety. Online classes will continue as usual to ensure uninterrupted learning. This move comes after a review of the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Gurugram, which has been experiencing severe levels of air pollution. The decision was made by the deputy commissioner, who cited the need to extend an earlier order suspending physical classes for students up to Class 12 in both rural and urban areas of Gurugram.
https://www.ndtv.com/education/gurugram-suspends-physical-classes-amid-severe-air-pollution-till-november-25-7095684#pfrom=home-ndtv_mainnavigation