As the hazy brown veil of pollution tightens its grip over the Delhi-NCR region, worry lines deepen on the faces of parents and children alike. Today, the air quality index around the capital has surged into the “very poor” category at ITO it stood around 381, and at India Gate it hovered at 331. Amid this looming health hazard, the question of whether schools will shut down for physical classes has become urgent.

According to recent updates, no official announcement has yet mandated a full closure of schools or colleges across Delhi, Noida or Ghaziabad. Still, the local government is reviewing the situation closely and considering moving to Stage IV under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to better handle the worsening air crisis. That means stricter restrictions could be imminent.

For children, especially those under Class 5, the risk is high. Their lungs are more vulnerable to fine particulate matter and the long hours outdoors during school commuting and playtime only worsen the exposure. Doctors and health experts are advising parents to keep children indoors where possible, provide good quality masks and monitor symptoms such as persistent cough, throat irritation and breathing difficulty.

Some schools in the region have already shifted to hybrid mode allowing online lessons for younger students while keeping options open for older classes to either attend or continue remote sessions. But parents are raising concerns: If the air outside is hazardous, why should older children be exposed at all? They point out that older students too spend substantial time commuting, playing or even just being outside between classes.

On the administrative side, officials are juggling complex decisions: how long to keep students off campus, how to balance academic schedules when the pollution may persist for days or weeks, and how to ensure that children’s education isn’t disrupted unduly while health remains the priority. For now, the message is clear stay alert. Follow school communications closely, check air-quality readings, avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure, and prepare for the possibility of full remote classes if the AQI crosses further thresholds.

In the midst of this, the air we breathe has become more than just background. It is a cloud of anxiety and urgency, a reminder that for many young lives, the classroom today could quite literally be indoors while the skies outside demand caution.