Kochi: Colourful banners and balloons fluttered in the monsoon breeze as decorated school premises and excited children walked through school gates after a two-month summer break. Hundreds of schools across Ernakulam reopened on Monday, with the monsoon remaining relatively mild during morning hours, allowing schools to conduct Praveshanolsavam (school reopening celebrations) smoothly. The festive atmosphere enveloped students, parents, and teachers alike.
District-Level Inauguration
The district-level Praveshanolsavam was officially inaugurated at Pezhakkappilly Govt Higher Secondary School by Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Legal Metrology Anoop Jacob. At Govt Girls HSS, Ernakulam, the event was held in the auditorium, where the chief minister’s address to students during the state-level Praveshanolsavam was live-streamed. Students also undertook a cybersecurity pledge, reinforcing safe digital practices.
Joyful Welcome for Students
“Overall, there was a happy mood as we welcomed students back to school. Students joining Class I were welcomed with crowns, and sweets were distributed to all students,” said High School Division Head Mistress Animma V O. The celebrations marked a vibrant start to the academic year, with schools ensuring a warm reception for returning learners.
Minister’s Call for Need-Based Development
Inaugurating the event, Minister Jacob emphasized that public schools should receive development funds based on their needs rather than student strength. He stressed that even schools with a single student should be provided with modern facilities, noting that improved infrastructure would help attract more students to government institutions. Jacob called for a non-discriminatory approach to infrastructure development and urged the modernization of lower primary and upper primary schools, alongside the improvements already achieved in most high schools and higher secondary schools across the district.
Launch of Cleanliness Campaign
The occasion also marked the launch of the district-level cleanliness campaign, “Lesson One: Cleanliness 3.0,” aimed at instilling hygiene and waste management habits among students joining Class I. As part of the campaign, Jacob released specially designed name slips carrying messages promoting cleanliness and responsible waste management. Class I students will receive these name slips, which integrate cleanliness and sustainable waste management messages into their daily learning experience.
Implementation and Goals
The programme is being implemented by the District Suchitwa Mission in collaboration with the district panchayat, local self-government department, and general education department through the deputy director of education. Officials said the initiative seeks to nurture a generation conscious of waste management and environmental responsibility from an early age.
