Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 03 : Following the widespread protests across Valley against the killing of Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the J&K government has decided to shut educational institutions till March-07 as a precautionary measure.
Talking exclusive to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Education Minister Sakina Itoo said that in order to ensure the safety of the students, the government has decided to close all the educational institutions till Sunday.
“We have decided to keep schools, colleges and universities closed till March-07” Minister Itoo said.
The Minister also said that the government is monitoring the situation closely and will take the call of reopening of educational institutions after only after assessing the ground situation.
Following the killing of Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes, a widespread protest erupted across Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinently, schools upto 8th standard were all set to reopen on Monday following the winter break of more than two months.
Earlier on February-23, schools from 9th to 12th standard classes resumed academic activities in Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division following a winter break of over 70 days.
The government had ordered the students of 9th class and onwards to observe the winter vacations from December-11-2025 to February-22-2026.
On November-25, School Education Department (SED) had announced winter break in a phased manner for Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division.
SED in an order had said that the vacations for Pre-primary (Balvatika) classes shall commence from November-26 to February-28-2026.
In case of middle classes upto 8th standard, the department had said that the vacations shall be observed from December-01 to February-28.
It also said that the winter break for 9th to 12th standard shall commence from December-11 to February-22.
SED had ordered the teaching faculty to remain available for any academic activity during the vacation period.
The Teaching staff was ordered to report back to their respective schools on February-20-2026 for making arrangements regarding opening of schools.
Earlier on February-16, Colleges in Kashmir valley resumed activities following a 52 days of winter vacations.
The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department on December-23-2025 had announced 52-days winter vacation for degree colleges falling in the winter zones of Kashmir division.
The government had said that the degree colleges in the Kashmir Division and those in the winter zone of Jammu Division shall observe winter vacations from December-24-2025 to February-14-2026.—(KNO)
