Noida: Schools in the district and Ghaziabad have been directed to conduct classes for students up to Class V in hybrid mode with immediate effect following the implementation of GRAP-III across Delhi-NCR.The district basic education officer issued an order on Wednesday, asking all govt councils, aided and recognised schools to offer both physical and online classes for students up to Class V, wherever the online mode is feasible.The directive follows the recent Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) order, which mandates hybrid classes for students up to Class V in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida under GRAP-III restrictions.Basic Shiksha Adhikari of Noida Rahul Panwar said, “The order also makes it clear that strict compliance is mandatory and action will be taken against schools found violating the instructions.”The decision has drawn mixed reactions from parents, with some welcoming the flexibility amid worsening air quality, while others said the arrangement could create practical difficulties for working parents.“It is a good decision, especially for younger children who are more vulnerable to pollution. We cannot keep them away from school indefinitely. Having the option of attending classes online will help reduce their exposure on days when the air quality is particularly bad. At home, we have an air purifier that will further reduce any effect bad air has on the children,” said a parent whose child attends a private school in Sector 44.However, some working parents felt that the arrangement could be difficult to manage, particularly when schools do not have a clearly defined online teaching schedule.“Both my husband and I work, and children staying at home throughout the day means we have to make alternative arrangements for their supervision. Online classes are useful, but they cannot always replace the structure and routine that children get at school. It is also difficult to manage their studies alongside work,” said Sakshi Singh, whose child studies in a CBSE school in Sector 71.Meanwhile, several schools said a revised schedule for hybrid mode will be rolled out soon.
