“The schools in five border districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch reopened today after restoration of normalcy. However, schools close to the Indo-Pak border will remain closed,” a senior official from the education department said.
The schools in 30 locations identified as falling close to the Line of Control and International Border will continue to remain shut as a precautionary measure.
In districts where schools reopened, students were welcomed with special morning assemblies focusing on peace and safety. “We are very happy to return to school after eight days. We feared that the war-like situation might keep us away for a longer time. It’s a happy moment to meet our friends again,” Urvashi, a student of KC Public School, said.
Alesha, a student of Class 9 at Model Academy, said the Indo-Pak conflict had confined them to their homes as Pakistan shelled their neighbourhood in Rehari. “We were confined to a safer room on the ground floor as Pakistani shelling hit our neighbourhood. We couldn’t step out or meet friends. It was scary. Returning to school now feels like a return to life,” she said.
Like them, teachers also felt relieved to return to school. “Peace has returned, and so have our students. We had sleepless nights during the hostilities. It’s a huge relief to be back,” Jagriti Raina, a teacher at GD Goenka School, said.
Although teachers were connecting with students through online mode over the past week, they maintained that offline mode ensures better connection, attention and accountability among students. “Offline mode is always best for both teachers and students, as it offers better connection, attention and accountability,” Ragni Datta, a teacher, said.
On Wednesday, the Directorate of School Education issued an official order detailing the reopening plan based on local security assessments. Joint Director Subash Mehta’s order outlined which zones in each district would reopen and which would remain closed.
The administration has directed Zonal Education Officers to ensure that schools strictly adhere to safety protocols. Heads of institutions are also expected to coordinate closely with local authorities to ensure smooth and safe academic resumption.
According to the order, in Jammu district, schools will remain closed in Arnia, Bishnah, RS Pura, Miran Sahib, Satwari, Marh, Akhnoor, Jourian, and Khour zones due to prevailing conditions.
In Samba district, schools will remain closed in the zones of Samba, Ramgarh, and Ghagwal. In Kathua district, Marheen and Hiranagar zones will see continued closure of schools. In Rajouri district, schools will remain closed in the zones of Manjakote, Doongi, Nowshera, Dandesar, Sunderbani, Rajouri, and Baljrarallan.
In the border district of Poonch, schools will remain closed in Mankote, Mendhar, Balakote, Harni, Nangali, Mandi, Kanuyian, Sathra, and Poonch.
It further said that heads of institutions are directed to ensure the resumption of academic activities in a smooth and orderly manner, and to maintain regular coordination with the local administration and law enforcement agencies.
