Schools in Kerala re-open with 'Pravesanolsavam'

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 2: Schools in Kerala re-opened today with about four lakh new children entering the first standard in various schools across the state.

The opening day was celebrated as ''Pravesanolsavam'', aimed at generating greater interest among students in learning. Teachers and senior students welcomed the tiny tots to the schools with sweets and balloons.

State Chief Minister V S Achutanandan inaugurated the state level functions of 'Pravesanolsavam' at the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Malampuzha, near Palakkad.

Inaugurating the function, Mr Achutanandan said the government stood for brining social justice and improving the quality of education in the state.Education Minister M A Baby was also present.

This academic year will see all students in the state learning English from the first standard itself.

The textbooks have been printed in two volumes to reduce the weight of the school bags.

Textbooks would be given free to about 34 lakh students from the first to standard eight.

The government had also decided to cut short the mid-term examinations to two from the existing three.

For the first time in the country, the Kerala Government would provide health cards to all students in the government schools and introduce sports and health in the syllabus.

UNI