The ambience was different and there were many strangers around. The sky had not opened up too. But, the first day in school turned out to be a bitter-sweet experience for most of the students in the district on Thursday as some of them found themselves to be at ease with the situation very fast, and a few others were still adamant.
‘Pravesanotsavam’, the event to welcome new students to schools, was as colourful as ever in Kozhikode with authorities pulling out all the stops to help tiny tots familiarise with the new atmosphere. Balloons were tied in every nook and corner of school buildings, the walls were looking bright with a fresh coat of paint and pictures, and children were given sweets by seniors and teachers.
P.T.A. Raheem, MLA, who inaugurated the district-level event at Government Upper Primary School, Manakkad, suggested that government schools and aided schools should make their institutions centres of excellence and take steps to woo more students. He said that managements of aided schools and their parent-teacher associations too were now trying to improve the standards of education.
The event was preceded by a colourful procession in which artistes performed Theyyam, Duff Muttu, Shingari Melam and Oppana. Local residents participated in large numbers in the procession. Later, students delivered a dance performance and sang a welcome song. Babu Parassery, district panchayat president, welcomed the new students and released Ezhuthola , a bulletin prepared for students.
Similar programmes were held in the city too. P. Kishan Chand, councillor, Kozhikode City Corporation, inaugurated the event at the Government Upper Primary School, East Nadakkavu. Artist Paul Kallanode sketched birds and animals on the board to welcome the students. L. Sheeja, headmistress, was present.
