| Border schools reopen amid low attendance, lingering fear | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 19: Balwinder Singh, a resident of the border village of the Hiranagar sub-division of Kathua district, has just dropped his son at the school, but fear is very much visible on his face.
Schools along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu reopened today, marking a cautious step toward normalcy after weeks of violence and disruption. However, fear and uncertainty kept attendance low, with only 25% of students returning to classes, as the region recovers from recent cross-border skirmishes.
Following heavy shelling during the Indian Army’s Operation Sindhoor, launched in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, schools in Jammu and Kashmir were indefinitely closed. The operation, which began on May 7, saw artillery fire from across the LoC devastate border villages, claiming the lives of four children in Poonch district and deepening fear among residents. There are over 800 schools within the radius of 0-5 km in border villages which are either closed or face frequent disruptions in normal schooling due to shelling from across the border. The number of students studying in these schools is anything between 50,000 to 60,000.
There are nearly 130 schools along the International Border (IB) in Samba district, while Jammu district has around 250 such schools in its border areas.
Similarly, more than 250 schools are situated along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, and over 80 in Rajouri. In Kathua distric There are over 800 schools within the radius of 0-5 km in the villages along the LoC.
Around 50,000 to 60,000 students are enrolled in these schools.
There are nearly 130 schools along the International Border (IB) in Samba district.
In Jammu district there are around 250 such schools in its border areas.
Today, some schools held classes in bunkers built on their premises as a precaution, reflecting the tense atmosphere.
“Even though there’s been no firing since the ceasefire, we’re still on edge,” said Ashwani, a resident of a border village of Babiya in Hiranagar said. The ceasefire, agreed upon in recent talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan, paved the way for the phased reopening of schools, starting with urban areas and extending to border regions today.
Despite no reported incidents, apprehension was evident among students and parents. Many families, wary of renewed tensions, have kept children with relatives away from border areas or are waiting for greater stability before resuming regular schooling. Attendance remained far below normal, prompting schools to introduce counseling sessions and group activities to support students’ mental well-being.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has bolstered security, deploying police and paramilitary forces around schools. The reopening is seen as a critical move to restore education and rebuild confidence in communities rattled by recent events, particularly in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba, and parts of Kathua.
Local voices underscore the fragility of the situation. “The ceasefire is a relief, but the threat isn’t gone,” one parent said, echoing widespread hesitation to fully embrace the return to normalcy. |
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