New Delhi: The Delhi state government on Thursday announced that all schools in the national capital will resume physical classes for students of class 6 onwards from December 18. The decision came after a nod to reopen schools has been given by the Commission for National Air Quality Management in the national capital and surrounding areas.
Earlier the education department of Delhi had sent two proposals to the Ministry of Environment regarding the reopening of schools. The proposal suggested that schools should reopen in-person for Classes 6 and above immediately while for classes 5 and below, schools can resume in physical mode from December 20 onwards. For younger classes, schools will resume from December 27 onwards in physical mode.
Schools will open amid the strict Covid -19 precaution guidelines as the national capital has also reported a case of the new Omicron Variant.
On Friday, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM), directed the State governments of Delhi-NCR to follow a phased re-opening approach in respect of schools, colleges and educational institutions located within their region.
CAQM issued directions after the meeting, advising the State Governments of Delhi-NCR to take immediate decision for resumption of physical classes in schools for Class 6 onwards, colleges, educational institutions, skill development and training institutes, and libraries.
The Commission has also directed the State governments to take the decision for resumption of Classes for students up to Class 5 with effect from December 27, 2021, duly considering the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the winter vacation schedule.
On December 2, the Commission had directed the Delhi Governments that “All Schools, Colleges and Educational Institutions in the NCR shall remain closed, allowing only online mode of education, except for the purpose of the conduct of examinations and laboratory practical, etc in view of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR."
