Noida: Schools in the city have suspended outdoor activities like morning assembly and outdoor sports for students as air quality continues to deteriorate in the region.
Students returned to school after the Diwali break at an AQI of 319 (very poor) for the month. While the air quality saw a slight improvement on Tuesday, with the AQI again dropping to the ‘poor’ category at 265, experts predict that the air quality is likely to deteriorate to the ‘severe’ category in the coming days.
“As schools reopen after the Diwali holidays, students have started returning since Monday. However, the air quality index (AQI) recorded on Monday was around 319, in the “very poor” category. Thus, all kinds of physical activities and outdoor activities have been suspended until the weather conditions improve,” said the director of a private school in Sector 71.
To allow students that much-needed break during the school day, many schools now dedicate playtimes to indoor classes, theaters, and library rooms. Principals and parents alike note that it has become an unfortunate “post-Diwali ritual”, forcing children indoors every year because of the dangerous air.
“It is difficult for teachers to restrict students from outdoor games. Children look forward to playtime – a break from the monotony of classrooms. However, in the last few years, it has become a post-Diwali ritual for the benefit of children and for health reasons. , we have to stop outdoor activities, instead, library halls are now converted into play halls and indoor activities are promoted,” said Supriti Chauhan, Director, DPS, Noida in Sector 132.
Parents echoed this concern, calling on the government to take action against pollution.
“Government must take steps to reduce the level of pollution as it not only has a physical impact but the mental health of students is also affected as they are deprived of their play time and daily exercise. Kids are full of energy and only indoor activities are not the best. for them it’s time for outdoor games to keep them happy and healthy but pollution doesn’t let that happen. But in such a scenario, we can’t help!” said Smriti Srivastava, whose son studies in the junior section of a private school in the city.
“Nowadays, online classes are not even a solution because they divert students’ attention and screen time is not healthy for their eyes either. So we are trying to find an alternative, maybe a change in the school schedule. Since the school opened on Monday, the morning assembly is being held in the auditorium,” said Asha Prabhakar, principal of Bal Bharti School in the city.
Apparently, some schools in the city have started sprinkling water on the campus. “Though there is no official advisory yet, let’s not add dust to the rising level of pollution. Every morning, we sprinkle water on the ground and around the campus,” Chauhan said.