New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) To protect children from a biting cold, all schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi government as well as government-aided schools in the city were Monday ordered shut until Jan 16. The order affects pre-primary to Class 8.

'Keeping in view the requests from the parents, the government has decided to close down the schools to safeguard interests of the children. Schools would be opened Jan 18,' Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said in a statement here.

'Pre-primary, primary and middle classes (upto Class 8) in all Delhi government and government-aided schools under the education directorate would be closed Jan 12-16,' he said.

There are over 920 government and 213 government-aided schools in the national capital.

The minister said that the over 1,200 unaided recognized schools (public schools) under the Delhi government have also been advised to close down.

'Schools recognized by MCD, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board were also advised to follow the instructions in the interest of the children,' Lovely said.

MCD separately announced Monday that all its schools would shut from Tuesday.

'All MCD schools as well as aided schools will remain closed for students Jan 12 to 17 due to the cold wave and foggy weather. The schools will reopen Jan 18,' Mayor Kanwar Sain said.

Teachers will, however, attend school during the week, said Prithvi Raj Sawhney, chairman of the MCD education committee.

The cold wave continued to lash the capital with the minimum temperature dipping to 6.5 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature dropped eight degrees below average Sunday to 12.6 degrees Celsius.