Delhi primary schools to be shut from November 5 as pollution worsens

Kejriwal said that deteriorating air quality and pollution levels were a problem of the entire north India and the Centre should take steps to address it

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that primary schools will be closed from Saturday in view of a spike in pollution levels in the national capital.

Speaking at a press conference, he noted that outdoor sports activities for classes above the fifth standard have also been suspended.

The city continued to reel under the eye-stinging pollution with air quality recorded in the "severe" category even on Friday.

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"Primary classes will be closed from tomorrow and outdoor activities for classes above fifth standard will be suspended. We are also mulling over implementing the odd even scheme for plying of vehicles," he said.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had recently asked the Delhi government to shut schools till the city's air quality improves.

In the wake of severe pollution in the national capital, many schools have taken several measures to protect children, including the suspension of outdoor activities and the introduction of breathing exercises in classes.

Many schools had on Thursday ruled out a shutdown, saying it would disturb the pace of academic learning.

In nearby Noida and Greater Noida, the authorities had on Thursday instructed all schools to hold online classes for students up to class 8 till November 8 in view of increasing pollution in the National Capital Region.

The schools were also told to hold classes for students of class 9 to 12 online as far as possible, said the order issued by Gautam Buddh Nagar's District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) Dharmveer Singh.

Outdoor activities like sports or meetings are also banned in all schools, the order further stated.