Hybrid Classes Ordered Up To Class 5 In Noida And Greater Noida As Pollution Deepens

A new schooling format for the youngest pupils

Authorities in Gautam Buddh Nagar have told government, government-aided and recognised schools to run lessons for children up to Class 5 in a blended format beginning Thursday. Pupils may attend in person or join remotely wherever online access is workable. The move follows the start of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region.

The directive and its legal basis

The order was issued on November 7 by the office of the District Basic Education Officer. District Basic Education Officer Rahul Pawar said the instruction reflects directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management, dated November 6. Under clause 8(ii) of those directions, schools up to Class 5 in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar are expected to adopt hybrid teaching. The commission has also allowed other NCR states to consider similar arrangements locally.

Warning to school managements

Principals and managers have been instructed to comply immediately. The education department has cautioned that any negligence or breach could lead to action against the institutions under applicable rules.

Air quality in the region

Noida and Greater Noida remain in the poor category. Official figures reported by PTI put Noida’s average 24-hour Air Quality Index at 291 and Greater Noida’s at 257, covering the period from 4 pm Tuesday to 4 pm Wednesday. Live readings at some Noida monitoring points, including Sector 62 and Sector 1, climbed above 300, placing them in the very poor band. Separately, a separate NDTV tracker recorded Noida’s AQI at 283 on the day of reporting. Delhi’s average for the same 24-hour window stood at 313, also in the very poor category.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology attribute the largest share of Delhi’s pollution load on Wednesday to secondary organic aerosols, which accounted for 22.7 per cent according to their source-apportionment estimates.

Background

GRAP is a tiered framework that tightens restrictions as pollution levels worsen, and Stage III is among its more demanding phases. The hybrid model for younger children is intended to limit their exposure to outdoor air while keeping instruction going. Schools in the district are required to follow the order from Thursday onward.

What next

Whether the arrangement continues will depend on how air quality responds in the coming days. The Commission for Air Quality Management has left room for neighbouring NCR states to adopt comparable measures, so further announcements from other districts are possible.