Classrooms fall silent across regions as learning shifts to home

As uncertainty looms over the nation amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, classrooms in many parts of the nation are falling silent — not from neglect, but out of deep concern for the safety of children.

On May 9, several private schools in Delhi chose caution over routine, shifting to online classes to protect their students from potential threats.

In Punjab, schools, colleges, and universities in six border districts — Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Pathankot — have been closed for three days.

In Jammu & Kashmir, authorities have ordered the closure of all educational institutions for two days, with senior officials deployed in border areas to oversee communication and emergency response efforts.

From Delhi Public School in Vasant Kunj to Indraprastha World School in Paschim Vihar and Queen Mary School in Model Town, the move to virtual learning was swift yet necessary.

“Given the prevailing circumstances, we decided to hold online classes. Summer vacation is starting from next Monday, but we did not want to take any chances, even for a single day,” said Shikha Arora, principal of Indraprastha World School.

It was a day of empty benches and quiet hallways, as safety weighed heavily on the hearts of parents and teachers.

Deepti Vohra, principal of DPS Vasant Kunj, echoed the same precaution. Meanwhile, at Queen Mary School, Principal Anupma Singh noticed the absence of laughter and learning in physical spaces.

“We had very few students today, as many parents chose not to send their children,” she said, her voice tinged with the gravity of the moment.

Schools that remained open did so with heightened vigilance. At ITL International School in Dwarka, Principal Sudha Acharya ensured students were not only educated but also prepared.

"During the morning assembly, the children were briefed on safety measures daily after the mock drill, and an advisory was also sent to parents," she explained, as young peer leaders helped instill calm and readiness among their classmates.

While no formal directive to shut schools had been issued, Delhi remained on high alert.

Cross-border shelling had intensified in several areas, with government employees called back from leave, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

In Kashmir, where schools have remained closed since May 7 following India’s missile strikes on terror bases, a quiet revolution unfolded within homes.

Online classrooms lit up screens across the valley as families sought continuity amidst chaos.

Saba Bhat, a mother of two from Pampore in Pulwama, shared her anxiety and resolve: “My kids have started to receive online education from today, as it is not safe to venture out of homes, especially after what happened along the borders over the past three days.”

She acknowledged the loss of routine but clung to a greater truth — the well-being of her children.

“Attending the school in person helps in the overall personality development of the children, but safety is of paramount importance. At least, this way the kids' academic progress will continue,” she said.

For Samina Ashraf, the shift to online education rekindled old memories of lost time.

“Online education was a novel concept when it was introduced on a large scale during the Covid pandemic five years ago. However, this has come as a major boon for the students. They do not lose any time academically,” Ashraf said.

A survivor of the education vacuum during the 1990 Kashmir unrest, she added, “Although the current academic arrangement has been forced due to the situation, online classes have become an integral part of the education system the world over.”

Government school teacher Mushtaq Ahmad hopes for equity in this shift, urging similar arrangements for public institutions.

“The private schools have taken the lead here .... We will be catching up if this situation continues longer. It is better that students of government schools also switch to online mode till it is safe to attend schools in person again,” he said.

In these vulnerable times, education endures — not in buildings, but in bedrooms and living rooms. Screens have become chalkboards, and resilience has become the curriculum.