Srinagar, March 1 — Educational institutions across Kashmir will remain closed for two days as a precautionary measure following widespread protests over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said on Saturday.
“In order to ensure the safety of the students, we have decided to keep schools, colleges and universities closed for two days,” Itoo told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
She said the government was closely monitoring the situation and would decide on reopening institutions only after assessing the ground conditions.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and will take a call accordingly,” the minister said.
Protests erupted in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir after reports confirmed that Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The closure comes at a time when schools up to Class 8 were scheduled to reopen on Monday after a winter break of more than two months. Classes for students from Class 9 to 12 had already resumed on February 23 in the Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division after over 70 days of vacation.
Earlier, the School Education Department had announced winter vacations in phases. Pre-primary (Balvatika) classes were closed from November 26 to February 28, middle classes up to Class 8 from December 1 to February 28, and Classes 9 to 12 from December 11 to February 22.
Teaching staff had been directed to remain available for academic activities during the break and to report back to their respective schools on February 20 to make arrangements for reopening.
Colleges in the Kashmir Valley had resumed academic activities on February 16 following a 52-day winter vacation. The Higher Education Department had announced winter vacations for degree colleges in the Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division from December 24, 2025, to February 14, 2026.
Authorities said further decisions regarding reopening would depend on the prevailing law and order situation.