Srinagar: Educational institutions across Kashmir will reopen on Monday after remaining closed for a week as a precautionary measure, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, Itoo said the administration reviewed the prevailing situation before deciding to resume academic activities. Schools, colleges and universities in all districts of the Kashmir region will now function normally from Monday, she said.
Authorities had ordered the temporary closure of educational institutions last week to ensure the safety of students amid protests reported in parts of the region. The protests had followed reports about the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes.
Officials said the reopening will also coincide with the end of the winter break for several school classes. Students up to Class 8 are scheduled to return to schools on Monday after a vacation that lasted more than two months.
Classes from 9th to 12th had already resumed in the Kashmir division and winter zones of the Jammu division on February 23 after a winter vacation of over 70 days. The government had announced that the break for these classes would run from December 11, 2025 to February 22, 2026.
Earlier, the School Education Department had declared winter vacations in phases for schools in the Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu. As per the schedule, pre-primary classes observed holidays from November 26, 2025 to February 28, 2026, while classes up to the 8th standard remained closed from December 1 to February 28.
Teachers were instructed to remain available for academic work during the vacation period and were asked to report to their respective institutions on February 20 to prepare for the reopening of schools.
Meanwhile, degree colleges in the Kashmir division and winter zone districts of Jammu had resumed classes on February 16 after a 52-day winter vacation announced by the Higher Education Department.(KNS)
