Delhi schools will open for physical classes from January 15, Monday as the extended winter break ends but as a precautionary measure for the prevailing foggy situation no school including double shift schools will start before 9 am and no school will have classes beyond 5pm, an order issued on Sunday said. All teaching and non-teaching staff shall report for duty as usual, it said, adding school heads must inform all students, parents and staff about the revise schedule on Sunday.

 “In continuation of Order dated 07/01/2024, it is directed that all students of Government, Government Aided and Recognised Private Schools shall join back classes in physical mode at their respective schools with effect from 15/01/2024(Monday). This includes Nursery, KG and Primary classes as well. However, taking precaution in view of the prevailing foggy conditions, no school(including double shift schools) will start before 9 a.m. and have classes beyond 5 p.m. till further directions. All teaching and non teaching staff shall report for duty as usual. The HoSs must inform all Students. Parents and Staff today itself through Mass SMS facility, Phone Calls, SMC and other suitable means of communication,” Directorate of Education said in the order, issued on Sunday.

As the temperature dipped in Delhi intensifying the fog situation during the morning hours, there was uncertainty over whether the winter break would be extended for a few more days.

On January 7, Delhi education minister Atishi announced that winter break would be extended till January 12 amid the ongoing cold wave situation in the national capital. "Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 5 days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from nursery to class 5," Atishi tweeted.