Educate School Kids On Air Pollution, Worried Delhi’s Directorate Of Education Tells Schools

New Delhi: In view of deteriorating air quality in the national capital, which in November last year was termed as ‘public health emergency’ by doctors and also led to suspension of classes in schools, the Delhi government has now directed schools to sensitise and educate students regarding the health hazards and ill effects of breathing polluted air. The action plan, issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government, states that special assemblies along with lectures and extra-curricular activities should be organised in schools on the health hazards emanating from poor air quality, and children should be advised not to burn crackers. Also, frequent awareness sessions should also be held in the week before Dusshera and Diwali, to sensitise students towards the consequences of burning crackers, the circular reads.

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The DoE further directed all schools in the national capital that themes for all zonal, district or state level competitions (Declamation, Debate, Drawing & Painting, Essays and Quiz Contest etc.) and all the science exhibitions should be related to pollution-free environment. Importance of conserving the environment, ill effects of pollution etc. may be encouraged as a theme for Annual Days as well.

The circular also asked the schools to organise plantation programmes, in which each student may grow at least one plant every year with the sole responsibility to nurture it, thus highlighting the importance of the trees to combat air pollution. In addition to this, eco-club of all the schools should be activated to plant more trees across the national capital.

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School Management Committees (SMC) or Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) members should also be motivated and encouraged to help in generating awareness in the society about the importance of good environment,”  said the circular issued by DoE in compliance to Supreme Court’s order to educate school children about ill effects of breathing polluted air.

All schools should display the consequences of polluted environment as well as the necessity of healthy and good quality environment in the form of drawings and paintings on the pollution related themes or topics,” it added.

The DoE had earlier issued several directives to schools, following an advisory from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which recommended various measures as part of the Graded Response Plan for dealing with the pollution situation.

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