Rain keeps date with reopening

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a long gap, the rains kept the appointment this year. They arrived in small numbers when the kids, in their new uniforms and bags, reached schools on the reopening day on Wednesday. And waited patiently till afternoon when the children were leaving for their homes to pour down heavily.For the thousands of tiny entrants to schools, the rains matched their tears as they yelled in full throat when their parents turned to go after leaving them in schools in the morning. The scenes were almost the same everywhere as another academic year began.The state-level inauguration of the ‘Praveshanotsavam’ was held in the capital at Nemom UPS. Maybe, the only place a Minister could be spotted as it was also the first day in Assembly for MLAs when they were sworn in. "The relationship between teachers, students and parents is getting better over the years, it is this comprehensive development of a child that schools should yearn for," Education Minister Abdu Rabb said inaugurating the Praveshanotsavam here. The kids were welcomed by placing a little crown on their heads. The Corporation-level Praveshanotsavam was held at Pattom Government Girls HSS, where Mayor K Chandrika  opened a new building which was built using SSA funds. While many government schools under the Corporation recorded increase in students, there were many schools like Sasthamangalam LPS and Thampanoor UPS where the turnout was not a matter for celebration. In Thampanoor UPS, the total number of kids who turned up (till class VII) was less than 70. "The school leaves a lot to be desired,’’ agreed Thampanoor councillor Harikumar, who inaugurated the Praveshanotsavam here. Many school authorities said that it would take a couple of days more to confirm the number of students and the exact figures would be known only then. In SMV High School, the Praveshanotsavam was inaugurated with much pomp. The school’s celebration was double-fold as it had recorded good pass percentage in SSLC examination this year. In Chalai UPS, the kids were treated to sweets and gifts on the first day. Many schools had decked up for the occasion, painted new with vibrant colours, shedding their old benches for new ones and planning surprise gifts for students. In Pothencode UPS, children were given  kits on their first day which included books, crayons, pencils and the like. What was not pleasant, however, was the serpentine traffic which jammed the smooth flow of vehicles for more than one hour in places like Vanchiyoor and Pattom. Incomplete road works and unwelcome rains added to the woes on the first day outing for the kids.