{
  "id": 19907511,
  "title": "Infra, parents’ consent: How schools are running hybrid classes in Noida, Ghaziabad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/infra-parents-consent-how-schools-are-running-hybrid-classes-in-noida",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T02:39:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/delhi/noida-ghaziabad-schools-hybrid-classes-air-pollution-aqi-digital-divide-10962493/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As air pollution persists and worsens in Delhi-NCR, including Noida and Ghaziabad, schools have begun transitioning to hybrid classes for students in grades up to V starting Thursday. The government has not imposed a specific framework for this shift, leaving the implementation to individual schools based on their available resources. Teachers are responsible for obtaining parental consent to determine whether their children will continue learning online or in-person. When 40 students are in a class, and half prefer online learning, teachers must divide their attention between online and offline students. Schools have been transitioning in this manner since the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite many students still attending school physically, teachers are required to simultaneously instruct both groups. The transition depends heavily on the school's infrastructure. An official notice from the Basic Education Officer states that due to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) implemented in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued an order on November 6 making it mandatory to conduct classes in schools for children up to Class V in a hybrid mode in the NCT of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. This clause allows for teaching in both physical and online modes, where online mode is feasible. Schools must comply strictly with the instructions issued by the District Magistrate, Ghaziabad, or face consequences. In Gautam Buddha Nagar, a government school teacher, who preferred anonymity, explained that children from low-income families, whose parents work in garment factories, attend school in person because they lack the means to attend online classes. The parents work long hours and do not have an extra phone to give to their children. Out of 60 students in a class, only around five have an additional phone at home. Like Delhi and other nearby cities, Noida and Ghaziabad experienced a decline in air quality during Diwali, with AQI readings of 318 and 344, respectively. In the following days, the AQI remained in the 'Poor' and 'Very Poor' categories, with readings reaching 313 and 368, respectively, on Friday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Meanwhile, in Greater Noida, the AQI was in the 'Poor' category between November 8-12 but rose to the 'Very Poor' category with an AQI reading of 348 on Friday, as per CPCB data.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Hybrid classes start for grades up to V in Noida and Ghaziabad amid worsening air pollution.",
    "Parents must consent for children to attend school in-person or online.",
    "Infrastructure determines ability to run hybrid classes effectively."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}