Delhi schools reopen as pollution stays a concern

All schools and other educational institutions in the national capital reopened  on November 29 after an interval of more than two weeks 

The Directorate of Education said that the Department of Environment and forests, GNCTD has allowed the reopening of schools in Delhi. The educational institutes were shut due to high air pollution levels. 

To combat increasing air pollution levels in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 13 had announced a ‘pollution lockdown’ in which schools were closed for physical classes for a week. Classes, however, continued through online mediums.

The decision to shut schools came after the Supreme Court expressed concerns over high levels of air pollution and exposing school children to dangerous conditions.

The schools that had been in online mode in the wake of the situation created by COVID-19, were reopened after a long gap from November 1. However, they were again asked to conduct classes in the virtual mode in the wake of the rise in pollution in Delhi.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the overall AQI in Delhi was 408 on Monday at 7 am. 

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 are marked as severe/hazardous.