Are schools closed due to pollution in Delhi NCR ?
Like every year, November and December is the season of toxic air in Delhi NCR and other northern parts of India. This year i.e. 2024, the AQI severity has been the second worst since the last reading way back in 2019. Children and Elders are the worst affected and hence its imperative for administration to contemplate if schools should be closed due to pollution in Delhi NCR. Previously, the closing of schools during pollution days was left to the intelligence of different district administrators of state governments like Delhi NCT, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. However, on 20th November, 2024, the court directed to make it mandatory to close schools should the AQI breach a certain level or when a certain GRAP level is in force. We see below details of these AQI thresholds that govern if schools could be closed due to pollution in Delhi NCR.
Below are different GRAP levels which are applied depending upon the AQI
Stage/Level 1 -> Poor (AQI 201-300),
Stage/Level 2 -> Very Poor (AQI 301-400)
Stage/Level 3 -> Severe (AQI 401-450)
Stage/Level 4 -> Severe plus (AQI above 450)
Various restrictions including school closure are linked to these GRAP levels and there are more restrictions as the level goes up. So, Stage 4 GRAP has more restrictions than any other stage.
These GRAP levels were first notified in 2017. In 2021, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) was set up to define and implement restrictions against each GRAP stage.
How to find out the AQI for your city?
Visit https://cpcb.nic.in/National-Air-Quality-Index/ and search for your city -> find the highest AQI numbers. These are the official numbers used to arrive at a GRAP level
School Holiday and GRAP stage/AQI – What’s the link now?
On 20th November, 2024, the court took away the control of district administrators in deciding holidays for the schools in their city and directed to make it mandatory to close schools should the AQI breach a certain level or when a certain GRAP level is in force.
If GRAP Stage 3 is applicable i.e. if AQI is between 401 and 450 in last 24 hours, its likely that all schools till class V have to be closed for physical mode of education.
If GRAP 4 is applicable i.e. if AQI is above 450 in last 24 hours, then all classes till XII have to be closed for physical mode of education (however for class X and XII, the admins may still take a call to override holidays).
Please note that the rule is in force in 2024 until November but may change going forward. Hence, its important to keep a tab on latest news.
Are schools closed on 25th November 2024 in Delhi or Noida or Gurgaon or Faridabad or Ghaziabad?
Noida has already declared that schools will be closed on Monday i.e. 25th November 2024. Since SC is supposed to review the GRAP-4 only on Monday i.e. 25th, it is unlikely that schools will be open for physical classes (except for X and XII which might vary) on Monday at least, even for the rest of Delhi NCR.
How to be sure if schools closed due to pollution in Delhi NCR ?
Always see tweets from your city admin on x.com and keep in touch with the school to be doubly sure of whether the schools are indeed closed or not.
Check reviews for your school at https://go4reviews.in/category/blog/education/
Last Updated on November 24, 2024 by Go4Reviews
