Minister Anoop Jacob launches district-level Praveshanolsavam

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 as hundreds of schools across Ernakulam reopened on Monday. With monsoon remaining relatively mild during morning hours, schools were able to conduct Praveshanolsavam (school reopening celebrations) smoothly, creating a festive atmosphere for students, parents and teachers alike.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 at auditorium, where chief minister’s address to students during state-level Praveshanolsavam was live streamed and students undertook a cybersecurity pledge. “Overall, there was a happy mood, as we welcomed students back to school. Students joining Class I were welcomed with crown and sweets were distributed to all students,” said high school division head mistress Animma V O.Inaugurating the event, minister Jacob said public schools should receive development funds based on their needs rather than student strength.He said even schools with a single student should be provided with modern facilities, stressing that improved infrastructure would help attract more students to govt institutions. Jacob called for a non-discriminatory approach to infrastructure development and said lower primary and upper primary schools should also be modernised alongside the improvements already achieved in most high schools and higher secondary schools across the district.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 the name slips. The programme is being implemented by District Suchitwa Mission in collaboration with district panchayat, local self-govt department and general education department through deputy director of education.Officials said the initiative seeks to nurture a generation that is conscious of waste management and environmental responsibility from an early age. The programme integrates messages on cleanliness and sustainable waste management into students’ daily learning experience.