Colourful start to new academic year

Tiny tots welcomed with processions, gifts, sweets

Children were welcomed with percussion ensembles at the school reopening festival at Sacred Heart School in Thrissur on Monday.- PHOTO: K.K. Najeeb

Schools in the district welcomed newcomers on Monday with colourful processions, balloons and gifts, to the accompaniment of percussion ensembles.

In all, 25,000 students in the district took their first steps into the world of letters. The number is almost 5,000 less compared to last year.

‘Role model’

Government Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan inaugurated the district-level school reopening festival at Government Higher Secondary School, Nadavarambu. Addressing the function, he said Kerala was a role model for other States in providing primary education for all children. District panchayat president C.C. Sreekumar presided.

Vellangallur block panchayat president Alice Thomas distributed gifts to the students. Traditional art forms added colour to the procession.

The newcomers were welcomed with percussion ensembles led by Peruvanam Satheeshan Marar at Sacred Heart School in the city. Sweets and balloons were distributed to the newcomers.