Kerala School Pravesanolsavam: Focus of new school year is to improve academic standards, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Pinarayi Vijayan
said that the key focus of the new school year will be on improving academic standards in schools along with infrastructure development.
He added that all schools will complete the academic master plan before June 15.
"There will be a significant change in the evaluation method. Steps are underway to bring the entire school system under one umbrella," the chief minister said, urging teachers to increase their knowledge to reach a new mindset. Along with increasing the standard of learning, the mental well-being of children will also be a part of education, and the govt will be with the students in all matters, he added.
"In 2016, five lakh children dropped out of public sector schools. Around 1,000 schools were shut citing unprofitability. From there, new chapters were written in the history of education by spending Rs 5,000 crore in nine years, including smart schools, smart classrooms, and infrastructure development," Vijayan said.
The chief minister said that this year will be considered a comprehensive quality year with the aim of improving the academic sector.
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"Knowledge should instil confidence in children and provide them with an opportunity to experience joy. That is the new method of education. Wisdom, critical thinking, discernment, love, and care are all part of knowledge," he said.
The chief minister said that the curriculum aims to impart knowledge to others with a sense of propriety. The govt has decided to enhance the aptitudes of children in this way for the next two weeks.
Vijayan said that the topics that will be imparted during this period include updating old knowledge, creating awareness against drug abuse, basic information about traffic rules, personal hygiene, health habits, discernment in mobile phone use, protection of public property, knowledge about laws, cooperation, etc.
Education minister V Sivankutty said that three crore textbooks were printed and delivered to schools even before the school re-opened.
Children's writings were also given space in the textbooks.
Agriculture minister P Prasad and fisheries and culture minister Saji Cherian were the chief guests at the function.
For the first time in the history of the pravesanolsavam, a poem by a student was selected as the ceremony song. The song written by Bhadra Hari, a student of Kottarakkara Thamarakudy SVVHSS, was selected as the inaugural song for this academic year. The song was composed and sung by music director Alphons Joseph. Bhadra Hari attended the entrance ceremony as the guest of honour. The chief minister handed over a special gift to Bhadra and honoured Joseph on the stage.
Sivankutty received the freshers at the event while the CM distributed school bags to them.
Vijayan also released a book on the achievements of the general education department and presented it to minister Cherian.
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