Delhi-NCR Schools: GRAP Hybrid Classes up to Class V and Digital Access Challenges

The news

Schools in Noida and Ghaziabad have switched to hybrid classes for students up to Class V from Thursday, following an order issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on November 6 under clause 8(ii) of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The order applies to the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. A senior Education department official from Gautam Buddha Nagar district said that while there is no single framework, implementation has been left to schools depending on the availability of resources.

Teachers are required to seek consent from parents on whether they wish their child to attend online or offline. If half the class opts for online, one teacher handles the online group and another teaches in the classroom, the official explained, adding that schools have been adopting such a transition since the Covid-19 period. Where large numbers attend physically, the teacher simultaneously teaches both groups using a board and a screen that connects to children at home. However, a government school teacher from Gautam Buddha Nagar, who did not wish to be named, said that children from poor families — whose parents work in garment factories for 10 to 12 hours a day — come to class because they do not have a spare phone at home. Out of 60 students in one class, only about five had an extra phone, the teacher said.

How will attendance be verified?

Teachers seek parental consent to decide whether a child attends online or physically. Schools can allocate separate teachers to the two groups or, if most students are present, teach both simultaneously using a board and a screen. The arrangement depends on the infrastructure available in each school, the Education department official said.

What is the air quality context?

Noida and Ghaziabad recorded AQI readings of 318 and 344, respectively, on Diwali. On Friday, the AQI stood at 313 in Noida and 368 in Ghaziabad, both in the 'Very Poor' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Greater Noida remained in the 'Poor' category between November 8 and 12 but entered the 'Very Poor' category on Friday with an AQI of 348.

What are the limits of the hybrid model?

A government school teacher from Gautam Buddha Nagar said that children from poor families attend physical classes because their parents, who work long hours in garment factories, do not have a spare phone to give them. Out of 60 students in one class, only about five had an extra phone at home, the teacher said, pointing to the digital divide that makes online attendance unfeasible for many.