AP Schools to Welcome Students With Flowers, Chocolates on Reopening Day

Vijayawada: Government schools across Andhra Pradesh would welcome students with flowers or chocolates or traditional aarti when classes reopen for the 2026–27 academic year, as part of the government's Mana Badi–Mana Panduga programme.

Special emphasis is being placed on students entering Class I and Class VI, who will be attending primary and high schools respectively for the first time. The initiative aims to create a festive atmosphere and encourage attendance on the opening day.

School education commissioner Thameem Ansaria reviewed preparations with senior education officials and directed them to ensure that the reopening day celebrations are conducted in a grand manner across the state.

Ansaria asked officials to focus on sanitation and safety measures before schools reopen after a 45-day vacation. Schools have been directed to inspect drinking water facilities, RO plants, toilets, overhead tanks, electrical wiring and building safety. Students, she stressed, are not to be allowed into dilapidated structures.

On the midday meal scheme, officials have been asked to discard old stocks of essential commodities and thoroughly clean kitchen utensils before preparing meals with fresh supplies. Textbooks and notebooks will be distributed to students on the first day itself.

School education regional joint director G. Nagamani said arrangements had been made to ensure a warm welcome for students and create a celebratory environment in schools.

“We have prepared to conduct the first day of the academic year in a festive atmosphere by giving a grand welcome to the students. We will focus on the learning outcomes of students lacking basic competencies by paying special attention to them from the very first day,” she said.

In NTR district, the education department has organised a government schools education expo at the collectorate on the directions of district collector Lakshmisha. The expo explained to students and parents the facilities available in government schools and the courses on offer.

Teachers have also begun contacting parents, advising them to ensure their children attend school on the reopening day. Parents travelling outside their hometowns have been urged to return in time, as attendance on the first day has been made mandatory.

NTR district education officer L. Chandrakala said schools had circulated reopening notices in the form of posters, welcoming students back and informing parents about mandatory attendance from the first day of the academic year.