Amavasya Keeps Students Away on Reopening Day

 Nalgonda: Schools in Nalgonda district reported low attendance on the first day of reopening after summer vacation, with officials attributing it to the day coinciding with Amavasya.

Attendance across government and private schools was estimated at 10 to 15 per cent. The district has a total student strength of 1,98,990 enrolled in 2,017 schools, including 1,749 government and 369 private institutions. The new academic year 2026-27 started on June 15.

Officials said attendance was affected as many parents avoided sending children to school on Amavasya, which is considered inauspicious. They expect attendance to improve from Wednesday.

At Zilla Parishad High School in Koratikal of Munugode mandal, only three students attended out of a total strength of 103. Some schools reported no attendance.

Some private schools had conducted short sessions on Saturday to mark the start of the academic year on an auspicious day.

District collector Badugu Chandrasekhar distributed textbooks to students at a government school in Marriguda on the outskirts of Nalgonda. He asked teachers to focus on self-discipline and wellbeing along with academics.

Officials said textbooks had reached school complexes and were ready for distribution. Students were asked to attend in last year’s uniforms as new uniforms were yet to be supplied. The breakfast programme had not begun as central kitchens were yet to be established in the district.

Meanwhile, a 13-year-old boy, Ramcharam, sustained injuries after coming into contact with a live electric wire at Zilla Parishad High School in Kondamallepally.

The boy, a student of a private school residing near the campus, was assisting in tying a mango leaf festoon at the entrance when the incident occurred. He was shifted to the government hospital in Devarakonda for treatment.