Schools in Delhi suspend physical classes for classes 10 and 12, CM Atishi announces

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Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday announced that physical classes will be suspended for classes 10 and 12, while education will be conducted online as pollution levels in the city worsened to ‘severe plus’ pollution levels.

“From tomorrow, physical classes will also be suspended for classes 10 and 12, and all studies will be shifted online,” Delhi CM Atishi said in a post on X.

The announcement comes hours after the Supreme Court urged all states to consider suspending physical classes up to Class 12 while hearing a plea on deteriorating air quality in Delhi. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice AS Oka and Justice AG Masih said: “All states should immediately call for discontinuation of physical classes of all standards up to Class 12.”

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Physical classes have already been suspended for all except grades 10 and 12 as phase 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP IV) has been implemented in Delhi amid deteriorating air quality.

The city is grappling with severe pollution as the air quality index (AQI) has dropped to the ‘severe plus’ category. Deteriorating air quality left people gasping for breath with itchy eyes and sore throats, while the AQI stood at 494, the second worst in the past six years.

The implementation of phase four of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was announced in the city on Sunday after the announcement Air quality index (AQI) exceeded the 400 mark, indicating serious pollution levels. Doctors expressed concern about health risks and warned that the toxic air could harm not only vulnerable groups but also healthy individuals.

The Delhi government had earlier ordered closure of schools with online classes replacing physical sessions to protect students from the dangerous air. However, the order did not apply to students of classes 10 and 12.

“With the implementation of GRAP-4 from today, physical classes have been halted for all students, with the exception of grades 10 and 12. All schools will hold online classes until further notice,” Prime Minister Atishi said in a post on X. on Sunday.

The Directorate of Education also issued a circular directing heads of government and private schools to stop classes for all students, including classes 10 and 12.

Meanwhile, the General Administration Department (GAD) on Monday issued an order declaring staggered timings for government offices and the MCD in view of the serious air pollution situation in the city.

The order taken on the directions of the Lieutenant Governor, staggered office hours as part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), will be followed by the government and MCD offices in Delhi. The opening hours of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices are from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, while those of Delhi government offices are from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The staggered timing will be in effect until February 28, 2025, the report said.