Thiruvananthapuram, May 31
Schools across Kerala will reopen on Monday after the summer vacation, ushering in a new academic year for lakhs of students across the state. Educational institutions have made elaborate arrangements to celebrate Praveshanolsavam (School Reopening Day), with special programmes planned to welcome first-time entrants and create a positive atmosphere for learning.
The state-level inauguration of the new academic year will be held at the Government Model Girls Higher Secondary School, Pattom, in Thiruvananthapuram. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will formally inaugurate the programme and interact with students, teachers and parents.
The General Education Department has instructed schools to avoid lengthy speeches and instead organize interactive and student-centric activities. The objective is to make the first day of school enjoyable and memorable, particularly for young children beginning their educational journey.
As part of efforts to promote responsible digital citizenship, students, teachers and parents will jointly take a Cyber Safety Pledge. The initiative is aimed at creating awareness about online safety, cyber security and responsible use of digital platforms among school communities.
The department has also finalized the academic calendar for the 2026–27 academic year to ensure that the prescribed instructional hours are completed at all levels of schooling.
For Lower Primary (LP) schools, the mandatory instructional requirement is 800 hours. Since this target can be achieved within regular working days, Saturdays will remain holidays for LP students. A total of 197 working days have been scheduled for LP schools during the academic year.
Upper Primary (UP) schools are required to complete 1,000 hours of instruction. To meet this target, three Saturdays will be observed as working days during the year.
At the high school level, where students are expected to complete 1,200 hours of classroom instruction, seven Saturdays have been designated as working days to ensure sufficient teaching time.
With classrooms set to come alive once again, schools across Kerala are preparing colourful welcome ceremonies, cultural programmes and engaging activities to greet students. For thousands of children entering school for the first time, Monday will mark the beginning of a significant new chapter in their lives.
