7 Big Updates: Delhi Schools to Resume Physical Classes After Christmas as CAQM Revokes GRAP-4, DoE Issues Fresh Guidelines
Delhi schools are set to resume physical classes after Christmas as CAQM revokes GRAP-4 restrictions
After weeks of uncertainty and prolonged online learning due to severe air pollution, Delhi schools are set to resume physical classes after Christmas. The decision comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) officially revoked GRAP-4 restrictions, leading the Directorate of Education (DoE) to issue new operational guidelines for schools across the national capital. The move has brought relief to parents, students, and educators who have been grappling with disruptions to the academic calendar.
Delhi schools had shifted to online classes following a sharp deterioration in air quality earlier this winter. With AQI levels consistently remaining in the “severe” category, authorities imposed GRAP-4 (Graded Response Action Plan Stage IV) restrictions—the strictest pollution control measures. These curbs included limitations on vehicular movement, construction activity bans, and the suspension of physical classes to reduce children’s exposure to toxic air.
For many students, especially those in primary classes, prolonged online education posed challenges related to learning outcomes, screen fatigue, and lack of classroom interaction. Parents and teachers repeatedly urged authorities to reopen schools once air quality showed signs of improvement.
According to officials, air quality levels in Delhi have shown consistent improvement, prompting CAQM to revoke GRAP-4 measures. While pollution remains a concern, the AQI has reportedly dropped below the “severe” threshold, allowing authorities to ease the strictest restrictions.
CAQM clarified that while GRAP-4 has been lifted, lower stages of GRAP may still remain in force, depending on daily air quality assessments. This means that while schools can reopen, authorities will continue monitoring pollution levels closely.
Following CAQM’s decision, the Directorate of Education (DoE) released a detailed set of guidelines outlining how schools should resume offline classes. These instructions aim to balance the return to normalcy with continued health and safety precautions.
Key highlights from the DoE guidelines include:
- Resumption After Christmas Break
All government, aided, and private schools in Delhi are permitted to resume physical classes after the Christmas holidays, as per their academic calendars. - Hybrid Learning Flexibility
Schools have been advised to remain flexible and allow hybrid or blended learning options, particularly for students who may be unwell or whose parents are concerned about air quality. - Health and Safety Measures
Schools must ensure proper ventilation in classrooms, availability of clean drinking water, and regular cleaning of premises. - Outdoor Activities to Be Limited
While schools can function normally, outdoor physical activities may remain restricted depending on daily AQI levels. Morning assemblies and sports sessions may be shortened or shifted indoors. - Monitoring Student Health
Teachers and school staff have been instructed to be vigilant about students showing signs of respiratory discomfort and to inform parents immediately if required.
The announcement has brought widespread relief among parents, many of whom struggled to manage online classes alongside work commitments. For students, especially those preparing for board examinations and competitive tests, the return to classrooms is seen as crucial for academic continuity.
Parents’ associations welcomed the decision, stating that physical classes are essential not only for learning but also for students’ social and emotional development. Many, however, emphasized the need for strict monitoring of air quality and urged schools to act responsibly if pollution levels rise again.
Teachers across Delhi have largely welcomed the resumption of offline classes, noting that in-person teaching is far more effective than virtual instruction. Educators highlighted that prolonged online learning has widened learning gaps, particularly among younger students.
However, teachers’ unions have requested clear contingency plans, asking authorities to specify protocols if AQI levels worsen suddenly. They also urged the government to ensure that schools are not forced to operate under unsafe conditions.
With board exams approaching, the reopening of schools is expected to play a critical role in exam preparedness. Many schools had expressed concerns that extended closures could impact syllabus completion, revision schedules, and internal assessments.
Education experts believe that resuming physical classes will help schools recalibrate their academic plans, conduct revision sessions, and provide focused support to students appearing for Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations.
Despite the easing of restrictions, environmental experts caution that Delhi’s air pollution problem is far from over. Weather conditions, crop residue burning in neighboring states, and vehicular emissions continue to pose risks.
Health professionals have advised parents to take precautions such as ensuring children wear masks on high-pollution days, stay hydrated, and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure. Schools have also been encouraged to install air purifiers where possible and regularly update parents on AQI trends.
Authorities have made it clear that the situation will remain dynamic. If air quality deteriorates significantly, GRAP restrictions—including school closures—may be reimposed. CAQM and the Delhi government will continue reviewing AQI data on a daily basis.
The DoE has instructed schools to stay prepared for swift transitions back to online learning if required. This approach aims to minimize disruption while prioritizing children’s health.
Education policy experts view this phased reopening as a balanced decision. They argue that while pollution-related closures are necessary during extreme conditions, prolonged shutdowns can have long-term consequences on learning outcomes.
Experts have also reiterated the need for long-term solutions to Delhi’s air pollution crisis, emphasizing that temporary closures are not a sustainable answer. Investments in cleaner transport, improved public infrastructure, and regional coordination are essential to prevent recurring disruptions to education.
For students, the announcement signals a return to routine—classrooms, peer interactions, extracurricular activities, and structured learning. Many students expressed excitement about meeting friends and teachers after weeks of remote classes.
Senior students, in particular, see offline classes as vital for clearing doubts, participating in discussions, and regaining academic momentum ahead of exams.
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