The Delhi government has decided to shut classes for all students up to Grade V and banned outdoor activities or assemblies on Wednesday in all the city schools in view of the massive air pollution and smog in the national capital.
"All primary schools will remain closed tomorrow. If needed, we will extend the order till day after. Outdoor activities including assemblies should not take place in schools," Delhi's Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.
The Delhi government's decision followed a tweet by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in which he called the city a "gas chamber" and asked Sisodia to consider shutting the schools for a few days.
"Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a solution to crop burning in adjoining states," Kejriwal tweeted.
Delhi woke up to 'severe' air quality on Tuesday with a thick haze blanketing the city as pollution levels breached permissible standards by multiple times.
Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) today saw its worst 'air quality' and 'smog situation' of the year -- which was even worse than a day after Diwali, as a yellow blanket of smog hung heavily in the sky. The pollution level rose to dangerous levels, with 18 out of 21 active pollution monitoring stations recording 'severe' air quality.
A number of schools in Delhi today already suspended their outdoor activities and advised parents to ensure their children wear masks.
"Dear parents, please note that due to high pollution levels/unfavourable weather conditions in Delhi, morning sports practice has been suspended for a few days," read a message by Sanskriti School.
Shri Ram School also issued a notice to parents along those lines. Tagore International School has truncated outdoor activities to once a week since Diwali considering high pollution levels.
Mount Carmel School in an advisory said: "Dear parent, due to increased pollution levels and poor air quality, students are advised to wear masks to school from tomorrow."
The Shri Ram Schools did it on Friday. Sanskriti School in the diplomatic enclave of Chankyapuri will do it from Monday. And the American Embassy School, another premier institution in Chankyapuri, regularly suspends outdoor aerobics when the air quality index (AQI) touches 300.
Springdales School, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and Ahlcon International School as well as government schools said they will wait until the pollution level gets worse.
According to the government’s “graded response action plan” to cut pollution in the city of more than 20 million people, schools must close when the AQI crosses 500.
The government will take measures in accordance with the anti-pollution plan in place in the Capital, according to Atishi Marlena, adviser to Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia.
Experts suggested that all outdoor activities should be restricted if the AQI reaches a range of 301 to 400. The AQI on Thursday was 311, and it deteriorated to 324 on Friday.
Principals of private schools said they would take steps as and when necessary.
“Pollution levels are higher in the morning and younger students are more susceptible to it. Last year, we had to shift our annual sports day because of the conditions. We plan to hold the sports day for junior classes in February,” said Manika Sarkar, director of The Shri Ram Schools.
Tagore International School restricted its outdoor morning assembly for students to once a week since Diwali.
“All outdoor activities have been suspended. We will wait and see how it goes in the coming days and take a decision on what to do next,” principal Madhulika Sen said.
For parents of kids studying at American Embassy School, such directives are not new.
“Our school has standard rules. If the air quality level goes above 300 anytime, all outdoor activities are cancelled,” a parent said.
Quoting the school’s rules, the parent said the physical education department “will modify activities in order to keep heart rates and respiration rates low… Any activity will be short in duration and of minimal physical demand”.
At Ahlcon, restrictions have not been imposed as most activities happen indoors since the school has a small campus.
“We have not yet hit the levels of air pollution where we need to hit the panic button,” principal Ashok Pandey said.
The principal of Springdales School on Pusa Road also suggested against sounding the alarm.
“I have kids with asthma coming regularly to school, without using masks. Parents are already grappling with fears of kids contracting dengue and chikungunya. I don’t want to alarm them more about their kids’ health,” said Ameeta Wattal, the principal.
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