Delhi woke to yet another grey, smog-laden morning on Monday as the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 359. But for many families, the immediate challenge went beyond pollution—the Delhi government’s decision to shift Classes up to 5 to a hybrid model from November 11 under GRAP-III has triggered confusion, logistical hurdles, and renewed concerns over digital access.
Teachers say the sudden shift has revived the deep digital divide they struggled with during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At an MCD school in Mandoli, a teacher explained, “Our teachers don’t have laptops or tablets, and that’s essential for conducting online classes. Many families still have one phone shared by three children.”
Connectivity Woes, No Wi-Fi
Even basic internet access is proving difficult. “We don’t have Wi-Fi on the campus, and the one dongle we have is inconsistently recharged. Teachers end up relying on their mobile data,” the Mandoli teacher added.
For many households, hybrid mode is nearly impossible to manage.
In Mayur Vihar, Pinki Soni planned to send her Class 5 daughter to school while keeping her Class 2 son online—because the family owns only one smartphone. But no online class link ever arrived.
“A day passed after the notification but no link was shared. When I asked the teacher, he said classes would begin only after instructions from higher-ups. He sent a few simple assignments instead,” she told HT. The next morning, she sent both children to school despite the thick smog.
Her experience echoes that of numerous parents who say the circular has created more uncertainty than clarity.
Parents Prefer Offline Amid Lack of Information
In Anand Vihar, where AQI touched 383 on Monday, Manisha said she only learned about the hybrid mode through news reports. Her daughter, a Class 2 student at a government school, received no official communication.
“I heard on the news that classes would run both online and offline, but I didn’t get any message from the school,” she said. She sent her daughter to school as usual on November 13 and 14.
As Delhi’s air quality continues to deteriorate, parents, teachers, and students find themselves caught between safety concerns and infrastructural gaps—struggling to navigate a system that remains deeply unequal.