Over 40 lakh students return to schools in Kerala after two-month-long summer vacation

ALAPPUZHA: Over 40 lakh children on Monday returned to schools in Kerala with educational institutions reopening in the state after a two-month-long summer vacation. Though the state had experienced heavy rain situations in the majority of districts in the previous week due to the onset of the southwest monsoon, Kerala generally experienced comparatively good weather on Monday morning.

Schools in cities and villages alike witnessed a rush of enthusiastic children returning with new books, bags and uniforms marking their new academic year. Teachers decorated their respective schools with festoons, balloons and coconut leaves to give a grand welcome to the wards. In many educational institutions, school authorities and parent-teacher associations organised live beating of drums and percussion to welcome newcomers.

According to figures, over two lakh children joined the first standard across Kerala in government and aided sectors. The exact figures would be available only later, official sources said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the "Praveshanotsavam 2025-26", the formal reopening of the school, by lighting a traditional lamp in a function held in a state-run higher secondary school in Alappuzha.

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Praveshanotsavam 2025-26

In the culturally rich event, the CM also launched the state-level distribution of study materials. During his address, Vijayan said children should be able to imbibe wisdom and discernment beyond knowledge through education. "We should approach everything with critical intelligence. Secular thinking and democratic consciousness should be instilled in the minds of children. That should be the objective of education," he said.

Besides children, teachers should also be ready to be updated themselves with fresh knowledge and inputs, the CM further said. All schools should carry out a coordinated effort to create an atmosphere of curiosity and inquisitiveness to allay the fears and concerns of students, he added. Vijayan also detailed the comprehensive changes being implemented by the state government during the new academic year.

Besides the CM, general education minister V Sivankutty and Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan and other people's representatives were also present during the function. The state government introduced several new changes, including time changes for high schools and value-based education in the new academic year.