Jammu reopens schools in non-border districts amid border tensions. (AI Image)

The divisional commissioner of Jammu has announced that educational institutions in non-border districts of Jammu province will reopen following a review by the education department, while those in border districts will remain closed.This update, shared via a post on X by @Divcomjammu, comes after an earlier directive on May 12, 2025, which had ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and educational institutions, except medical colleges, across the province on May 13.The non-border districts of the Jammu Division—Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, and Ramban—will remain open tomorrow, May 13, 2025. However, all private and government schools in the districts of Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba, and Udhampur will remain closed on the same day.The decision reflects the ongoing security concerns stemming from heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border. While non-border areas are deemed safe for resuming academic activities, border districts continue to face uncertainty due to the volatile situation in the region.Revised directive brings clarity after confusionThe latest announcement from the divisional commissioner aligns with an earlier post by Sakina Itoo, minister of school/higher education, health & medical education and social welfare, government of J&K, who stated on May 12, 2025, that schools and colleges in non-border districts of Jammu and Kashmir would reopen on May 13. Her statement had caused confusion among students and parents, as it contradicted the initial closure order for the entire Jammu province.Users on X, including @sahilverma and @InfobugI, had urged authorities to clarify the situation, highlighting the conflicting reports.Conflicting reports create uncertaintyAdding to the complexity, a post by Sakina Itoo, minister of school/higher education, health & medical education and social welfare, government of J&K, stated that all schools and colleges in non-border districts of Jammu and Kashmir were set to reopen on May 13. This announcement, shared on X at 4:43 pm on May 12, 2025, has caused confusion among students, parents, and educators, as it directly contradicts the divisional commissioner’s directive.Several users on X, including @Sheel_Sharma1 and @InfobugI, highlighted the discrepancy, urging authorities to clarify the situation.The divisional commissioner’s statement, however, specifically applies to the entire Jammu province and does not differentiate between border and non-border districts. This has left many wondering whether the reopening plans for non-border areas have been overruled or if there was a miscommunication between administrative bodies.Impact on students and educational institutionsThe repeated closures have significantly disrupted the academic calendar in Jammu province. Students and educators are grappling with uncertainty, as this marks the second closure in less than a week. Medical colleges, which remain operational, are an exception, likely due to their critical role in providing healthcare services during the ongoing tensions. However, other institutions, including private schools and colleges, must now adjust to the extended break, with no clear timeline for reopening.Parents and students have taken to social media to voice their concerns. Many suggested that schools and colleges should remain closed until after the summer break, citing distrust towards Pakistan amid the volatile situation. Regional response to the crisisThe ripple effects of the India-Pakistan tensions have been felt beyond Jammu. In Punjab, districts like Ferozepur, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot have seen school closures, with Ferozepur issuing a 72-hour shutdown starting May 9, 2025. Similarly, Rajasthan’s border districts, including Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer, have kept schools closed since May 7, with no reopening date announced. In Leh, schools were shuttered on May 9 and May 10 as a precautionary measure following the military escalation.