Delhi, Noida, Gurugram Schools Reopening Dilemma: Should Kids Face the AQI or Stay Home and Attend Online Classes?
With air pollution in Delhi-NCR hovering at hazardous levels, heated debate rages over whether schools should reopen. While the Delhi government has suspended physical classes for Class 10th and 12th students, many parents are sharply divided on this issue. Some urged schools to reopen soon, while others insisted that the health of their children must take precedence over education.
There has been an issue over closing the schools in Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad. Yet, the decision was walked back as the Supreme Court intervened, shedding light on the severe situation due to dangerous air quality. On 25 November, online classes were started at Gurugram and Faridabad as the pollution level was still severely high.
Parent Views on Air Quality Issues
Many parents raise concern about returning their children to schools in the polluting atmosphere. Anurag Kumar, a parent from Delhi-NCR, expressed that "health is more important than education. Children cannot go to school or focus on their studies if they are not healthy. Online classes should continue until AQI levels improve in significant manners."
Chandan Kumar Singh, another parent, felt that online classes are useful, but with their own set of problems in terms of connectivity and less interaction with the teacher. "Children need to go to school, even if it is wearing masks until the pollution levels stabilise," he said, pointing out the continued online class may impact their academic progress.
The central issue remains the air quality index (AQI), which was recorded at 281 in parts of Delhi, classified as "unhealthy," with areas like Anand Vihar reporting AQI levels of 333. Even though the air quality has improved marginally, it remains hazardous for children, which is why many argue over reopening schools.
Impact on Health of the Children due to Air Pollution
The health impacts are well known to arise due to long exposure to air pollution, increasing the risk of respiratory problems, lung damage, and long-term developmental impacts on children. The parents opine that the government should consider looking at issues through the prism of children's well-being rather than anything else, where AQI levels swing between "very poor" and "hazardous" parts of Delhi-NCR.
Health or Education?
With debate still ongoing, the question of should schools reopen in Delhi-NCR amid all these high pollution levels in the air? The situation is dire and the call really depends on balancing health and education. While parents are divided, many agree that reopening should only come into effect when air quality becomes safe enough to enable kids to breathe clean air without risking their health.
