Jammu And Kashmir: Educational Institutions Shut Till Mid-May Amid Spike In COVID-19 Cases

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered closure of all educational institutions, including colleges and universities, till May 15. However, for the courses or programmes that require physical presence of students on account of laboratory, research, thesis work and internship will continue.

In a series of measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday ordered closure of all educational institutions, including colleges and universities, till May 15. The decision to close higher educational institutions was taken at a meeting here chaired by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to review the pandemic situation, the order said. All government and private schools were closed earlier this month as a precautionary measure after a number of students and teachers tested positive for the coronavirus, while Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) examinations for Class 10, Class 11 and Class 12 were either cancelled or postponed. In an order issued by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Member Secretary State Executive Committee Simrandeep Singh said all universities and colleges in Jammu and Kashmir would remain closed for imparting on campus or in-person education to the students till May 15, except for the courses or programmes that require physical presence of students on account of laboratory, research, thesis work and internship. “Colleges will move to online mode,” the order said. Mr Singh said all schools in Jammu and Kashmir would continue to remain closed for imparting on campus or in-person education to the students till May 15.