Noida/Ghaziabad, Nov. 12 -- Schools in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad have been directed to shift classes for students up to Class 5 to hybrid mode from Thursday, allowing children to attend lessons either physically or online, as air pollution continues to remain a concern across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The directions were issued by the district administrations of Gautam Budh Nagar -- which includes Noida and Greater Noida -- and Ghaziabad, following the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) invocation of Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap).

Under Clause 8(i) of Stage 3 of Grap, the Delhi and NCR state governments are required to shift classes up to Class 5 to hybrid mode in Delhi and the districts...