Two-Day Closure of All Educational Institutions Announced in Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: In view of widespread protests across the Valley against the killing of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to shut educational institutions for two days as a precautionary measure.

Education Minister Sakina Itoo said that in order to ensure the safety of students, the government has decided to shut schools and all higher educational institutions as a precautionary measure.

“We have decided to keep schools, colleges and universities closed for two days,” Minister Itoo said.

The Minister also said that the government was monitoring the situation closely and will take a call on reopening educational institutions only after assessing the ground situation.

Following the killing of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint US-Israeli strikes, widespread protests erupted across Jammu and Kashmir.

Pertinently, schools up to 8th standard were all set to reopen on Monday following a winter break of more than two months.

Earlier, on February 23, schools for 9th to 12th standard resumed academic activities in the Kashmir division and winter zones of the Jammu division following a winter break of over 70 days.

The government had ordered students of 9th class and onwards to observe winter vacations from December 11, 2025, to February 22, 2026.

On November 25, the School Education Department (SED) had announced the winter break in a phased manner for the Kashmir division and winter zones of the Jammu division.

SED, in an order, had said that vacations for Pre-primary (Balvatika) classes shall commence from November 26 to February 28, 2026.

In the case of middle classes up to 8th standard, the department had said that 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 the reopening of schools.

Earlier, on February 16, colleges in the Kashmir Valley resumed activities following 52 days of winter vacation.

The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department on December 23, 2025 had announced a 52-day winter vacation for degree colleges falling in the winter zones of the Kashmir division.

The government had said that degree colleges in the Kashmir division and those in the winter zone of the Jammu division shall observe winter vacations from December 24, 2025 to February 14, 2026  (KNO)