The cold wave has prompted the administration to implement a few substantial measures.
New Delhi: The winters have set in fully in major parts of the country. The IMD has issued warnings about cold to severe cold wave conditions for many states and other areas.
Talking about the Delhi-NCR region, it is combating two problems at one time, severe pollution levels and extremely cold weather. This uncomfortable combination has prompted the administration to implement a few substantial measures to address the situation.
Since the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is imposed in Delhi-NCR, more firm steps have been taken to tackle air pollution in the schools and colleges in Delhi-NCR regions including Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida, Jewar, Dadri, Greater Noida, YEIDA, and Dankaur) according to which they will switch to hybrid classes for students up to Class V during Stage III and allowing parents and students to opt for online learning where available.
In view of the cold weather, the district administration has extended the school timing on Monday, according to officials. The new school timing will be 9 a.m. until further notice, as per the official order.
The new timings will be effective from December 17. Following the order, several schools have sent notices about this change to students’ registered phone numbers.
Bus timings for private schools have also been adjusted as dense fog has begun to affect the National Capital region early in the morning.
Following the order, Delhi Public School (DPS) also issued an official circular for students.
“Dear parents, as per the directives received from district administration, GB Nagar, the school timings have been revised in view of extreme cold weather conditions,” said the circular.
According to the DPS, school timings for students from Pre-Nursery to Class 2 will be from 10 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. For students in Classes 3 to 12, the timings have been set from 9 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Bus services will also be delayed by one hour, said DPS.
Following Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) order over GRAP 3, schools will conduct classes on hybrid mode.
“All Heads of Schools of Government Aided, Unaided Recognized Private Schools of DoE, NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board are directed to conduct classes in schools for children up to Class V in a ‘Hybrid Mode’, both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) with immediate effect until further orders.” said Veditha Reddy, director (Education).
