Noida Schools Shift to Hybrid Mode as Air Quality Plummets

On November 13, 2025, the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate, Medha Roopam, ordered all schools in Noida and Greater Noida to conduct hybrid classes for students up to Class V until further notice. This decision was made in response to the hazardous air quality in the region, with Noida's air quality index (AQI) remaining in the "severe" category for the second consecutive day.

The air quality situation has been dire, with Noida recording an AQI of 408, while Greater Noida and Ghaziabad logged "very poor" levels of 388 and 356, respectively, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The city of Noida had only seen three "poor" air days so far this month, with Greater Noida experiencing five "poor" air days and one "moderate" day in November.

Parents had earlier criticized the district administration for delaying the implementation of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) advisory, which mandated hybrid or online classes for younger students. They felt that Delhi had acted promptly, but Noida officials were slow to respond, forcing children to breathe in the toxic air.

Following the directive, the district inspector of schools, Rajesh Singh, stated that all schools in the district have been instructed to shift to hybrid mode for students up to Class V with immediate effect. Schools have been given the flexibility to decide between online and offline teaching based on feasibility, with the objective of minimizing children's exposure to severe air pollution while ensuring continuity in learning.

The situation will be reviewed depending on the air quality, and the administration is also implementing other measures to tackle the rising pollution, such as mechanical sweeping, regular water sprinkling, and the use of smog guns to control dust pollution in public areas.