More than 94% of Class 12 students in the Valley appeared for the first paper for the Jammu and Kashmir annual board examinations amid heightened tension in the state, Greater Kashmir reported on Monday. The local daily quoted official statistics that claimed 30,213 of the 31,964 students registered showed up at the centres. In Srinagar, 5,617 students answered the papers amid tight security. Anantnag district in South Kashmir had the highest number in attendance at 96%, the local daily reported.

The students appeared for the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Examinations at more than 1,000 centres in the state, despite having only attended 90 days of school in the October-October academic session, according to The Indian Express.

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Classes have been hampered by the violence that broke out after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8. State and police officials had assured the public of adequate arrangements and security at exam venues. On Saturday, Inspector General of Police for the Kashmir Zone SJM Gillani had said a special facility centre would be set up at police control rooms for officials to provide feedback and coordinate with others during the exams.

The preparations for the Class 10 and 12 board examinations come as the state continues to deal with the burning of schools by arsonists, curfews, protests, and strikes sponsored by separatist organisations. An increase in cross-border firing between India and Pakistan has also affected education in the state. On November 1, the Jammu District Magistrate ordered the closure of all 174 schools in the region near India’s border with Pakistan.

At least 25 schools in the state have been set ablaze by unidentified people over the past few months. Reports also said around 174 schools in border areas of Jammu would reopen on Tuesday.

More than 90 people have been killed in unrest in the Valley following Wani’s killing, and hundreds have sustained grievous injuries during protests in the past three months.