Following the rise in pollution levels in Delhi and NCR region, the government announced that all private and government schools will be kept closed until November 15. They have been reopened today, Monday, November 18.  On Sunday the overall air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). The overall Air Quality Index in Delhi was recorded at 365 which falls under the ‘very poor’ category. But the air quality has become better today morning.

Scheduled smog break in schools?

According to a survey done by online platform “LocalCircles”, over 70 percent of parents in Delhi and NCR believe there should be a scheduled “smog break” in schools from November 1 to 20 every year. The survey with nearly 10,000 respondents from Delhi and NCR region has also found that parents want that leaves of the smog break could be compensated with reduction of leaves from the summer, winter and spring breaks combined to ensure the study calendar is not affected.

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“74 percent parents from Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurgaon want there should be a scheduled smog break from November 1-20 every year when the air quality is at its worse,” the survey said. It further added, “Raising concerns about how frequent breaks could affect the syllabus and activity calendar in schools, parents suggested that the leaves of smog break could be compensated with a reduction in other annual breaks.”

Source: PTI