Amid deteriorating air quality in the national capital and surrounding areas, Jamia Millia Islamia has announced holding all classes online till November 23, 2024. The move comes after Jawaharlal Nehru University gave a similar order for JNU.
The notice from the university stated, “Online classes will be continued up to Saturday, November 23. And physical classes will start from Monday, November 25.” However, it explained that the schedules related to exams and interviews for this period shall remain uninterrupted.
It reasons that the air quality index in Delhi has reached dangerous levels and for the safety of the students. It had to take them online. Currently, the AQI across Delhi and the NCR has remained in the “severe” category. While pollution levels continued to spiral upward. Therefore, the university has decided to keep health and well-being at the forefront for the students.
Delhi University also issued a notification on the same day that it would go online from classes from today until November 23 with physical classes resuming on November 25. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi further added that physical classes for Classes 10 and 12 in Delhi were being suspended. And all the studies would shift to online mode because of hazardous air quality.
The Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram in Haryana also issued a statement that stated that physical classes for students up to class 12 would remain suspended from November 19 to November 23, until further orders. This comes after the advice of the Director of Secondary Education in Haryana on the severe AQI levels.
The situation has just become grimmer over cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and parts of northern India. The air quality is at alarming levels, posing serious health threats to its residents. The Supreme Court of India ordered authorities to strictly implement anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan. On Monday, the AQI reached 441 by 4 pm and further again touched 457 by 7 pm. This forced an emergency meeting by the GRAP Sub-Committee.
GRAP is merely a list of actions and restrictions that come into operation once the air quality starts deteriorating to reach hazardous levels. The Stage IV restrictions kick in when the AQI reaches severe levels, as seen currently in Delhi.
The university shifted to online classes to protect the students from exposure to such harmful pollution. And further health risks during the crisis.
ANI