Schools reopen with smiles and celebration; Students welcomed with sweets

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a two-month vacation, students returned to schools across Kerala today. Around 42 lakh students are attending classes as the new academic year begins. Schools welcomed children with roses and sweets. To ease the anxiety of first-time learners, primary classrooms have been redesigned with attractive decorations, including cartoon characters and nature-themed artwork on the walls. More than three lakh children are entering Class 1 this year.

The state-level school reopening ceremony will be inaugurated by Chief Minister V D Satheesan at Pattom Government Model Girls Higher Secondary School. Education Minister N Shamsudheen will preside over the function. Schools across the state have been instructed to organize interactive sessions involving students, teachers, and parents. A cyber safety pledge will also be administered, and the state-level ceremony will be broadcast live in all schools.

The academic calendar includes a total of 197 working days. Saturdays will remain holidays for lower primary students. Three Saturdays have been designated as additional working days for upper primary students, while high school students will have seven extra working Saturdays.

To prevent the sale and use of narcotics and intoxicating substances near school premises at the start of the academic year, special surveillance measures have been put in place by the excise and police departments.