Delhi: Group Of Parents Write To LG Over Reopening Of Schools Closed Due To Air Pollution

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>New Delhi:</strong> Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Government, on Wednesday, will take a decision on lifting the existing 'work from home' (WFH) facility for state government employees, ban on entry of trucks and reopening schools, colleges, educational institutions. The Directorate of Education (DoE) on Sunday had announced closure of schools and other educational institutions till further orders due to deteriorating air quality in Delhi.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, ahead of the crucial meeting, a group of 140 parents wrote a letter to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal seeking his intervention for reopening of schools in the national capital, news agency PTI reported.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The group of parents in their letter have said that minor improvements in Delhi's air quality due to weather-related changes have resulted in the state government allowing construction and other activities, "children and their education be given equal attention, in fact greater, priority". Schools in Delhi were already closed for a longer period due to Coronavirus.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">"India has the distinction of implementing one of the world's longest school closures. After 20 months of closure, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority authorised the reopening of schools for all classes in Delhi at 50 per cent capacity, effective November 1. This coincided with the annual pollution cycle.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">"Unfortunately, our children's education was the first victim of the pollution response and school closures were announced on November 13 for one week. This has now been extended until further orders. While recognising the enormity of the pollution crisis and the risk it poses to our children's health, we strongly urge the Delhi government to reconsider this decision and reopen schools," the letter said, PTI reported.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">"Further, hybrid nature of schooling offers parents with alternative modes of protection to make a choice about sending their children to schools. Majority of schoolgoing children do not have access to methods of protection against air pollution such as air purifiers," it said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Masks are mandatory in schools to contain COVID-19 spread and masking will reduce exposure to air pollution, parents asserted.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">"Primary schools have now been closed for almost 21 months. There is a large body of evidence that highlights the importance of early years in the formation of human capital. The long-term closure of primary schools is having a significant detrimental impact on the learning of our young children. It is, thus, imperative that we must prioritise opening of primary schools.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">"Keeping in mind these realities, we urge that schools be allowed to open. The hybrid model at 5 per cent capacity will ensure parental choice and address the public health concern of vehicular pollution," it said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">(With Inputs From PTI)</p>

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