In a decisive move to protect children from the capital's toxic air, the Delhi government on Monday ordered an immediate halt to physical classes for students from nursery to Class V. The directive, which will remain in force until further notice, mandates a complete shift to online learning for these young pupils.
Government's Preventive Step Amid Health Crisis
The Directorate of Education (DoE) issued orders to all government, government-aided, and recognised private schools in Delhi, ending the hybrid format that had allowed a mix of online and offline attendance. Education Minister Ashish Sood explained the rationale, stating the health and well-being of children is the highest priority. He called the suspension a "preventive and necessary step" to shield young children from the adverse effects of the severe air pollution, adding that the situation is being continuously monitored.
While primary sections move fully online, classes for higher grades will continue in the hybrid mode, as per earlier DoE directions from December 13. However, this decision has brought to the fore the significant challenges educators face with the hybrid teaching model, which many say creates more problems than it solves.
The Impossible Burden of Hybrid Teaching
Teachers across Delhi's schools have voiced deep concerns over the increased and often unmanageable workload the hybrid model imposes. A teacher from a private school in Saket described the reality: "On paper, I'm teaching one class. In reality, I'm managing two at the same time, and it is humanly impossible to maintain quality learning for all." The teacher added that even during fully online phases, educators are often required to report to school.
School principals echoed these difficulties. Tania Joshi, Principal of The Indian School, noted that about 60-70% of students and their parents still prefer offline schooling. She highlighted the core conflict: parents of online students expect undivided attention, while teachers are equally responsible for those physically present. "Balancing both becomes extremely difficult. Teachers are required to give double attention, repeat lessons and manage varied attention levels," Joshi said, pointing out that children at home are often far more distracted.
Learning Gaps and Infrastructure Hurdles
Rooma Pathak, Principal of MM Public School in Pitampura, said hybrid teaching places teachers under constant stress as teaching styles must change completely between physical and online settings. "In school, teachers can instantly see whether a child is attentive or completing work. Online, it's impossible to know if the student is actually present or just logged in," she explained. Pathak revealed that during the last hybrid phase for primary classes, nearly 95% of students attended in person, making online teaching an added burden for just a handful.
Some institutions, like St Michael's Senior Secondary School on Pusa Road, have opted out of hybrid teaching entirely for classes up to VIII. Principal Jas Elanjikal stated that hybrid learning creates confusion, increases workload, disrupts learning, and forces teachers to repeat lessons, ultimately harming teaching quality.
The challenges are magnified in government schools, where poor internet connectivity, a lack of devices, and limited smart classroom infrastructure cripple effective online learning. In many cases, teachers resort to sending assignments via WhatsApp, resulting in minimal student engagement.
Parents have expressed frustration with the recurring disruptions. A parent of a Class V student from South Delhi said, "On one side, they want learning to continue; on the other, children are made to suffer." Another parent criticised a school for organising a field trip during GRAP-III restrictions, questioning the priority given to children's health amidst the pollution crisis.
