Haryana government orders closure of schools till class 5 amid rising air pollution

NEW DELHI: The Haryana government has ordered temporarily closing schools up to Class 5 due to the rising pollution.

The Directorate of School Education has written a letter to all the District Deputy Commissioners, saying that given the severe AQI levels in Delhi and surrounding regions, the directorate issue necessary directions for holding online classes for upto Class 5th in the schools (Govt. and Private) in the interest of the health and safety of the students.



" I have been directed to inform you that the Government has decided that the concerned Deputy Commissioners shall assess the prevailing situation (as per the GRAP) in view of the severe AQI levels in Delhi and surrounding regions and may discontinue physical classes and issue necessary directions for holding online classes for upto Class 5th in the schools (Govt. and Private) in the interest of the health and safety of the students. The assessment for rural and urban areas of the concerned districts may be carried out separately," the letter read.

This comes after Delhi CM Atishi announced the closure of all primary schools and the shift to online classes until further notice.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has instructed government and private schools and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)-run schools to suspend offline classes for these students.