New Delhi: The sports field has fallen silent and the masks have found their way back into schoolbags.
Principal Divya Bhatia said the school has also issued an advisory to parents on celebrating a green Diwali. Principal Tania Joshi said students may wear masks and are allowed to remain indoors if they feel uncomfortable stepping outside. “The school is building awareness among children about pollution, its causes and prevention,” she said. “We monitor AQI and follow GRAP guidelines, shifting assemblies indoors on bad-air days,” principal Rooma Pathak said. “The health, safety and well-being of our children remain our top priority,” principal Pallavi Sharma said. Joginder Kumar, principal of Govt Co-Ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Rohini, said the school has incorporated classroom-based activities and online-learning plans into its academic calendar to ensure continuity whenever restrictions are imposed.
From private institutions equipped with air purifiers to govt schools adapting daily routines, administrators say the annual pollution season is once again reshaping the school day. At Amity International School, outdoor activities have been suspended, and students have been advised to wear pollution masks. At The Indian School, classrooms are equipped with air purifiers and indoor plants, while outdoor activities have been curtailed. MM Public School in Pitampura has fitted classrooms with air conditioners, air purifiers and snake plants. Students with asthma and allergies are being monitored closely, while eco and health clubs are conducting awareness drives. At Mamta Modern School, outdoor sports have been suspended, playgrounds are being sprinkled with water to control dust and classrooms are equipped with air purifiers. Govt schools, where resources can be more limited, are relying heavily on procedural changes.